COAST   REDWOOD.     Humboldt  County. 

"The   sunshine    penetrates   the    roof   of    green    far   above  and   illumines  the  aisles   between   the  eiant   oillars 

"  8nP 


CALIFORNIA 
STATE  BOARD  OF  FORESTRY 


SHADE  AND  ORNAMENTAL  TREES 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


BY 

MERRITT  B.  PRATT 

State  Forester 


TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

G.    MORRIS   ROMANS 

STATE  FORESTER  FROM  MARCH,  1910,  TO  XOVE.MBER.  1921 
A  PIONEER  OF  FORESTRY  IX  CALIFORNIA 


466418 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  BOARD  OF  FORESTRY 

Dr.  Geo.  C.  Pardee,  Chairman  Oakland 

R.  E.  Danaher    .  .      Camino 

Col.  Ed.  Fletcher     .  San  Diego 

Merritt  B.  Pratt  .                       Sacramento 

Solon  H.  Williams  Yreka 


Office  of  State  Forester 

Merritt  B.  Pratt  State  Forester 

Solon  H.  Williams  .      Deputy 

Wm.  B.  Rider  Assistant 

State  Forest  Nursery  at  Davis 

Albert  Aldinger  Nurseryman  in  Charge 


CONTENTS 


Preface 13 

Introduction  _  15 


PART     I 


CONIFERS 


Page 

Araucarias 17 

California  Nutmeg 19 

Cedars,  Cypresses  and  Sequoias 19 

Cedrus 20 

Thuya 22 

Thuyopsis  _.  23 

Cupressus 23 

Chamaecyparis 25 

Libocedrus  __1 26 

Taxodium 27 


Page 

'  Sequoia 27 

"  Juniperus 29 

Cryptomeria 3° 

Douglas  Fir 31 

Firs 32 

Ginkgo 33 

Pines 34 

Spruces 39 

Yews_.                       41 


BROAD -LEAF    TREES 


Acacias  and  False  Acacias 

Acacias  _  __  45 

Albizzia 47 

Black  Locust.-.         47 

Honey  Locust.  _  48 

Ashes__-  49 

Birches 52 

Bladder-nut 54 

Bottle-brushes 54 

Brisbane  Box 55 

California  Laurel 55 

Camphor  __  .__  56 

Cape  Chestnut  __  57 

Carob 57 

Casuarina  _  58 

Catalina  ln>n\vood__     58 

Catalpa 59 

Cherries  and  Plums__  59 

Chestnut 60 

Copper  Beech-.  62 

Coral  Tree 62 

Crape  Myrtle  _.  .  63 

Christmas   Berry 63 


Page 

Dogwood - 64 

Elms 65 

Empress  Tree 68 

Eucalyptus 68 

Eugenia > 72 

Golden  Chain 73 

Hawthorn 74 

Hickories 75 

Hollies 77 

Horse  Chestnut 78 

Hymenosporum  -                       79 

Jacaranda 80 

Jerusalem  Thorn 80 

European  Laurel 80 

European  Linden 81 

Madrona 82 

Magnolias-.                              83 

Maples-                                               ---  85 


May  ten 87 

Mulberry.  88 

Oaks 89 

Oleander 93 

Olive 94 


BROAD-LEAF    TREES-  Continued 


Page 

Orchid  Tree  _  94 

'agoda  Tree 95 

'epper  Tree  _                   95 

Mstache 96 

Mttosporums  _                     96 

'oplars 97 

'rivets..                                                     .  100 

Red-bud 101 

Rubber  Trees..                                         .  101 


Page- 
Silk  Oak  _  -  102 

Sterculias -  103 

Sycamores.  _  -  103 

Tamarisk.-  -  106 

Tulip  -  -  106 

I'mbreHa  Tree  ..  -  108 

\Valnuts__  -  108 

\Villo\vs_.  in 


PALMS 


Page 

California  Fan  Palm__  -  114 

Canary  Island  Date  I'alm..  -  114 

Cocos  Palms  _.  .  114 

Guadalupe  Island  Palm .__  115 

Illue  Palm..  .  116 


Date  I'alm... 
Cape   I'alm  _ 

\\"ine  I'alm 

Windmill  I 'aim- 
Dragon  Tree.. 


16 

1 6 

17 
>7 
17 


PART     II 

I'agc 


Tree    Lists    for    Different    Regions   of 

California — 
Region       I — Sacramento     and     San 

Joaquin  Valleys 120 

Region     II — Coastal..  .    121 


Page 


Region    III  —  Foothill  _  .  122 

Region    IV  —  Southern  California  ___  123 

Alkali  Resistant  Trees.  .  124 

References  _  125 

Index_.  .  127 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Coast  Redwood Frontispiece 


Betu'cci, 
Pages 


9- 

10. 
1 1. 

12. 
13- 

14- 

16. 

18. 
19. 
20. 

21. 
22 

23. 

24. 

25- 
26. 

*  27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 

32. 

33- 

34- 

35- 

36. 

37- 
1  38- 
'  39- 

40. 

41. 

42. 

43- 


I  Hack  wood  Acacia 

Weeping  Myall 

Bailey's  Acacia 

Acacia  elata 

Constantinople  Acacia 

Constantinople  Acacia  Blossoms 

Monkey  Puzzle 

I  >uny  a-Bunya 

Chinese  Arborvitae__: 

Giant  Arborvitae 

Arizona  Ash 

Australian  Brush  Cherry 

Bald  Cypress 

She  Oak  _ 

White   Birch 

Weeping  Birch 

Victorian  Bottle  Tree 

Brisbane   Box 

European   Buckeye  

European  Buckeye  Blossoms- _ 

Camphor  Tree 

Carol) 

Island  Ironwood 

Catalpa 

Catalpa   Blossoms 

Incense  Cedar  _ 

Deodar  Cedars 

Lebanon  Cedar  _. 

Catalina  Cherry 

Italian  Chestnut 

Cape  Chestnut-. 

Coral   Tree 

Crape   Myrtle 

Crape  Myrtle  Blossoms.. 
Guadalupc  Cypress  _ 
Italian   Cypress  _. 
Italian    Cvpress  _ 
Monterey  Cypress- _ 

Lawson   Cypress 

Japanese  Cedar  _ 

American   Elm 

English  Elm 

Camperdown  Elm_- 


18-19 
2O-2I 
2O-21 
22-23 
22-23 
24-25 
24-25 
24-25 
24-25 
26-27 
26-27 
28-29 
28-29 

30-31 
30-31 

34-35 
34-35 
36-37 
36-37 
3«-39 
38-39 
40-41 
40-41 
40-41 
40-41 
42-43 
42-43 
44-45 
44-45 
46-47 


5Q-51 
50-5 1 
52-53 
52-53 
54-55 
54-55 
56-57 
56-57 
56-57 
56-57 
58-59 


Plate 

44- 
45- 
46. 

47- 
48. 

49- 
5°- 
51- 

52. 

•S3- 

54- 
55- 
56. 
57- 

58. 

59- 

60. 

61. 
62 
63- 
64- 

65- 
66. 

67- 
68. 

69. 

70. 

7i- 

72- 
73- 
74- 


/o- 
76. 

77- 
78. 

79- 
80. 
81. 

82. 

83- 
84- 
85- 


Between 
Pages 

Eucalypts  and  Palms 58-59 

Red  Gum 60-61 

Lemon-scented  Gum 60-61 

Lemon-scented  Gum  Trunk 62-63 

Sugar  Gum 62-63 

Swamp  Mahogany 66-67 

Scarlet-flowering  Gum 66-67 

Blue  Gum 68-69 

Empress  Tree  _.  _  68-69 

Douglas  Eir 70-71 

Spanish  Fir  _          70-71 

White  Fir 72-73 

Xordman's  Silver  Fir 72-73 

Flame  Tree 72-73 

Ginkgo 72-73 

English  Hawthorn 74~75 

Paul's    Double- flowering    Haw- 

^  thorn  _  _   74-75 

Shagbark  Hickory 7^-77 

Holly : 76-77 

Hymenosporum 78-79 

Jacaranda 78-79 

Japanese  Pagoda  Tree__          __  82-83 

Jerusalem  Thorn  __    82-83 

Juniper  _  _  84-85 

European  Laurel..  __  84-85 

European  Linden 86-87 

Bhrk  Locust  _  _  86-87 

Honey   Locust 88-89 

Pink-flowering  Locust-.  _  88-89 

Madrona . 88-89 

Bull   Bay  Magnolia. _  _  88-89 

Magnolia  Blossom _  90-91 

Norway  Maple. _  _  90-91 

Big-leaf   Maple  _.  _  92-93 

May-ten 92-93 

Red  Mulberry  _  _  94-95 

Weeping  Mulberry __  .  94-95 

Cork  Dak 98-99 

Cork  Oak  Trunk..      98-99 

Bur  Oak __    100-101 

California  Live  Oak .    100-101 

Hooker  Oak__       102-103 


ILLUSTRATIONS— Continued 


Plate  fa 

86.  Oleander .  102- 

87.  Orchid  Tree__  .  104- 

88.  Orchid  Tree   Blossoms...  .  104- 

89.  Olives .__  104- 

90.  California  Pepper  Tree  _  .  104- 

91.  Brazilian  Pepper  Tree  _  .  106- 

92.  i'hotinia  _  .  106- 

93.  Italian  Stone  Pine__  .  108- 

94.  Pines  of  Monterey  _  .  108- 

95.  Monterey  Pine  Trunk.  _ 

96.  Torrey   Pine 

97.  Torrey  Pine  Cones..  _ 

98.  Coulter  Pine__ 

99.  Aleppo  Pine 

100.  Canary  Island  Pine__ 

101.  Weeping   Pittosporiim  _  .  118 

102.  Victorian  Box  _  .  118 

103.  Purple-leaved  Plum  _  .  120 

104.  London  Plane  _  .  120 

105.  California  Sycamore..  .  120 

1 06.  Carolina  Poplar .  120 

107.  Lombard v  Poplars  _.  .  122 

1 08.  Weeping  Poplar  __.  .  122 

109.  Red-hud  _  .  124 

1 10.  Red-hud  Blossoms. _  .  124 
in.  Coast  Redwood-.  .  126 


10- 
10- 

14- 
14- 

16- 


103 

i  o; 
H>5 

l°5 

105 

107 
107 

IO9 

109 

I  ! 

I  I 

15 

1 


/ 
19 
I  K) 
121 
121 
121 
121 
123 

i -'3 
125 
I25 
127 


13- 

• 

1 6. 

' 
- 

2 


I'.i-   Tree__ 

Moreton  Bay   IMI 

Moreton   Bay  J' 

Silk  Oak_. 

Silk  Oak  Blossoms  _ 

Colorado  Blue  Spruce-- 

Norway  Spruce-.  -    128 

Tamarisk  _  128 

Tulip  Tree  _  128 


P 

126 
128 
I28 
128 
128 
i28 


. 


Tulip  Tree   I '.loss,  mi  i  28 

I'mhrella  Tree_.  .  128 
California  Black  Walnut-  -  128 
California  Black  Walnuts.  .  128 

Weeping  Willows  _  .    128 

Irish   Ye\vs_.  .    128 

Zelkova_.  .    128 

Dragon  Tree  _  .128 

Blue  Palm  _  .128 

Canary  Island  Palm  -  .128 

Cape  Palm  _  .128 

Cocos  Palms__  .    128 

Date  Palms .    128 

Guadalupe  Palm  _  .128 

Windmill  Palm .128 

California  Fan  Palm__  .   128 

37.   Torrey  Pines  _  .    128 


27. 

28. 


32. 
33- 
34- 
35- 


ages 

127 

121; 

I2(; 

129 

129 

i_'() 

129 

129 

129 

129 

129 

129 

129 

121; 

129 

129 

29 

29 

29 

-  29 

29 

-129 

-129 

-129 

129 

-129 


SALUTE  TO  THE  TREES 

HENRY  VAN   DYKE 

Many  a  tree  is  found  in  the  wood 

And  every  tree  for  its  use  is  good  ; 

Some  for  the  strength  of  the  gnarled  root, 

Some  for  the  sweetness  of  flower  or  fruit; 

Some  for  shelter  against  the  storm, 

And  some  to  keep  the  hearthstone  warm ; 

Some  for  the  roof  and  some  for  the  beam, 

And  some  for  a  boat  to  breast  the  stream — 

In  the  wealth  of  the  wood  since  the  world  began 

The  trees  have  offered  their  gifts  to  man. 

But  the  glory  of  trees  is  more  than  their  gifts: 

'Tis  a  beautiful  wonder  of  life  that  lifts, 

From  a  wrinkled  seed  in  an  earth-bound  clod, 

A  column,  an  arch  in  the  temple  of  God, 

A  pillar  of  power,  a  dome  of  delight, 

A  shrine  of  song,  and  a  joy  of  sight! 

Their  roots  are  the  nurses  of  rivers  in  birth ; 

Their  leaves  are  alive  writh  the  breath  of  the  earth  ; 

They  shelter  the  dwellings  of  man ;  and  they  bend 

O'er  his  grave  with  the  look  of  a  loving  friend. 

I  have  camped  in  the  whispering  forest  of  pines, 
I  have  slept  in  the  shadow  of  olives  and  vines  ; 
In  the  knees  of  an  oak,  at  the  foot  of  a  palm 
I  have  found  good  rest  and  slumber's  balm. 
And  now,  when  the  morning  gilds  the  boughs 
Of  the  vaulted  elm  at  the  door  of  my  house, 
I  open  the  window  and  make  salute : 
'.'God  bless  thy  branches  and  feed  thy  root! 
Thou  hast  lived  before,  live  after  me, 
Thou  ancient,  friendly,  faithful  tree." 

From  Scribner's  Magazine;  copyright,  1921,  by  Charles  Scribner's  .Sons.     By  permission  of  the  publishers. 


PREFACE 

The  economic  value  of  good  roads  has  far  surpassed  the  claims  of  its  early 
protagonists  twenty  years  since.  The  value  of  road  improvement  by  means 
of  well-planted  trees  and  shrubs,  pleasing  bridges,  water  outlets,  stone  records 
and  designs  is  just  as  great  as  the  economic  value — a  doctrine  which  has  been 
steadily  growing  and  is  now  gaining  full  assent. 

Out-of-doors  recreation  is  accepted  as  a  necessary  part  of  the  life  of  a 
Californian — as  a  vital  element  in  bodily  well-being,  mental  diversion  and  im 
aginative  stimulus.  Roads  decorated  with  trees  and  shrubs,  here  revealing 
continuous  charms,  on  occasion  curtaining  an  ugly  spot,  are  in  keeping  with 
the  glory  of  the  far-flung  landscapes  of  California;  barren  or  unsightly  road 
ways  would  be  paradoxical  in  a  land  of  beauty. 

While  highways,  to  be  sure,  are  of  extreme  importance  to  motorists,  an 
importance  which  can  scarcely  be  overestimated,  highways  are  not  merely  for 
motorists.  Travelers  from  the  East  constantly  comment  upon  a  California 
phenomenon  never  seen  in  Eastern  cities — the  long  strings  of  men  and  girls 
pouring  out  of  our  cities  and  towns  on  holidays,  clad  in  hiking  costumes  and 
filing  along  the  roadways — for  the  roads  lead  to  the  trails  and  the  trails  to  the 
hills. 

The  work  of  our  State  Department  of  Forestry  in  planting  and  decorating 
the  highways  assumes,  therefore,  more  than  a  special  or  group  interest.  While 
such  improvements  increase  the  pleasure  and  contentment  of  the  traveler  and 
add  large  economic  values  to  the  regions  traversed  by  the  roads,  the  work 
serves  an  additional  purpose  in  giving  expression  to  the  spirit  of  our  people, 
their  feeling  for  the  out-of-doors — for  the  hills,  valleys  and  mountain  ranges 
of  this  state.  For  these  roads  will  not  merely  carry  the  traffic  load  of  trade, 
binding  city  to  city,  but  ably  planned  and  adorned  they  will  be  silvan  threads 
worthy  to  join  the  wonderlands  of  California  each  to  each  and  these  in  turn 
with  the  centers  of  population.  In  this  manner  such  work  will  give  a  visible 
sign  of  the  mental  attitude  and  spirit  of  the  Californians. 

Willis  Linn  Jepson. 

University  of  California, 
June  1 8,  1921 . 


INTRODUCTION 

The  purpose  of  this  publication  is  to  stimulate  more  widespread  interest 
in  the  planting  of  trees  in  California.  There  are  thousands  of  miles  of  highway 
in  the  state  that  should  be  beautified  and  shaded  with  suitable  trees.  Many 
streets  in  our  towns  and  cities  as  well  as  school  and  home  grounds  need  trees 
both  for  their  beauty  and  shade.  Californians  have  a  wide  range  of  trees 
from  which  to  choose,  species  coming  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  No  attempt 
has  been  made  to  describe  in  the  following  pages  all  the  shade  and  ornamental 
trees  grown  in  the  state.  The  species  described,  however,  are  of  sufficient 
variety  to  answer  most  of  the  inquiries  constantly  being  received  regarding 
the  characteristics  of  trees  which  it  is  desired  to  plant. 

Trees  are  something  more  than  green  things  or  mere  firewood.  They 
have  human  aspects  which  the  Greeks  well  knew  when  they  made  "the  forest 
rivers  garrulous  with  babble  of  gocls."  From  the  far-off  days  when  the 
prophetess  of  ancient  Israel  "dwelt  under  the  palm  tree  of  Deborah,"  and 
the  people  came  up  to  her  for  judgment,  trees  have  played  an  important  part 
in  the  history  of  nations.  Their  significance  is  thus  expressed  by  Reginald 
Wright  Kauffman : 

"Mankind  has  always  regarded  the  tree  as  friendly  and  often  as 
divine.  There  was  the  mystic  oak  of  the  Druids;  the  sacred  Bo-tree  of 
Buddah;  the  ash  Yggdrasil  of  Norse  mythology,  whose  roots  were  in 
the  underworld,  but  whose  arms  reached  to  the  Asa-gods  above  the 
skies.  How  large  a  part  the  tree  has  played  in  our  own  Holy  Writ, 
from  the  Tree  of  Knowledge  of  Good  and  Evil  in  Genesis  to  that  Tree 
upon  which  the  Divine  Sacrifice  was  consummated,  I  need  not,  surely, 
remind  you." 

In  our  own  history  we  have  trees  that  have  long  been  cherished  as  living 
memorials  of  great  deeds,  such  as  the  Charter  Oak,  and  the  Washington  Elm. 

Our  forefathers  did  not  neglect  the  improvement  of  their  village  and 
home  grounds,  but  planted  trees,  the  stateliness  of  which  now  bears  witness  to 
their  foresight.  New  England  is  famous  for  its  elm-bowered  villages,  and 
New  York  and  Ohio  for  their  maple-shaded  towns. 


The  early  colonial  traditions  that  prompted  the  planting  of  trees  in  the 
Eastern  States  were  largely  lost  in  California  during  the  "days  of  '41)." 
although  many  of  our  mining  towns  have  trees  that  were  planted  by  the  gold 
seekers  at  that  time.  I  he  unsettled  conditions  that  prevailed,  however,  and 
the  undeveloped  conditions  with  which  the  home-builder  had  to  contend, 
made  tree  planting  a  secondary  consideration 

Now  that  the  pioneering  days  are  over  and  settled  conditions  prevail, 
more  and  more  interest  is  being  taken  in  making  community  and  rural  life 
more  attractive.  There  can  be  no  more  pleasant  surroundings  than  are 
provided  by  trees.  No  man  who  has  planted  a  tree  and  watched  it  grow  can 
fail  to  appreciate  how  responsive  and  grateful  it  is  to  human  help.  A  seedling 
placed  in  unused  ground  pays  back  a  thousand  fold  in  beauty,  and  in  its 
response  to  care.  It  talks  of  man's  works  to  posterity  as  is  so  well  stated  by 
Lucy  Larcom : 

"He  who  plants  a  tree 

I  le  plants  love ; 

Tents  of  coolness  spreading  out  above 
Wayfarers  he  may  not  live  to  see.' 


CONIFERS 

Conifers  with  the  exception  of  larch,  bald  cypress  and  ginkgo  retain 
their  leaves  throughout  the  year  and  are  commonly  known  as  evergreens.  It 
is  their  evergreen  habit  and  foliage  of  gray  to  dark  green  shades  that  gives 
them  their  chief  ornamental  value.  During  the  early  period  of  their  lives  they 
are  conical  in  form  with  branches  extending  to  the  bases  of  the  trees.  In  later 
life  they  develop  spreading  crowns  which  surmount  straight,  cylindrical 
trunks,  and  in  old  age  they  become  rugged  and  picturesque  in  appearance. 

On  account  of  their  shape  and  mode  of  growth,  conifers  are  not  as  good 
for  streets  as  broad-leaved  trees.  Their  best  use  is  as  specimens  or  groups  to 
accentuate  an  elevation,  or  define  a  boundary.  When  planted  in  masses  they 
serve  to  bring  out  the  sky  line  more  effectively  than  do  broad-leaved  trees. 
They  fit  into  country  places  when  carefully  selected  and  placed.  On  account 
of  their  somber  shades  they  should  not  be  placed  near  houses,  but  rather 
against  a  lively  background  such  as  would  be  provided  by  bright-foliaged 
trees. 

The  large  growing  conifers  should  be  planted  where  they  can  be  seen  at 
some  little  distance  and  not  be  crowded  in  order  to  show  them  to  their  best 
advantage  in  their  entire  form  and  outline.  The  smaller  conifers  can  be 
used  to  advantage  to  accentuate  mass  plantings  and  in  formal  gardens. 

The  value  of  conifers  for  decorative  effect  has  been  only  recently  recognized 
in  this  country.  Quick  growing,  short-lived  material  has  been  used  with  little 
thought  of  the  future.  People  are  now  waking  up  to  the  fact  that  nothing  else 
can  give  the  solidity,  strength  and  virility  so  noticeable  in  European  gardens 
where  the  use  of  conifers  has  predominated  for  centuries. 

ARAUCARIAS 

The  Araucarias  are  magnificent  trees  with  whorled  branches  and  stiff 
pointed  leaves,  which  growr  naturally  in  Brazil,  Chile,  Polynesia  and  Australia. 
The  name  of  the  genus  is  derived  from  Arauco,  the  name  of  the  district  in 
southern  Chile  where  the  tree  was  first  discovered.  Altogether  there  are  about 
a  dozen  species.  Several  species  are  widely  planted  in  California  and  do  well 

2 — 11898 


over  a  wide  range  of  soil  and  climatic  conditions.  The  araucarias  are  grown 
on  a  large  scale  in  nurseries  in  pots  since  the  young  trees  are  favorite  house 
decorations  because  of  their  novel  appearance  and  ability  to  withstand  hard 
usage. 

NORFOLK  ISLAND  PINE 

The  Norfolk  Island  pine  (Araucaria  excelsa),  also  known  as  "Star  Pine," 
is  a  native  of  Norfolk  Island  and  New  Caledonia,  and  was  discovered  by 
Captain  Cook  on  one  of  his  voyages.  The  tree  reaches  a  height  of  200  feet 
and  a  diameter  of  nine  to  ten  feet  in  its  native  habitat.  Its  branches  ere  ar 
ranged  in  regular  whorls  with  intervals  of  bare  stem  separating  each  whorl. 
The  branches  are  horizontal  and  densely  covered  with  light-green,  awl-shaped 
leaves.  This  tree  has  a  distinctiveness  of  character  and  solemnity  of  out 
line  which  sets  it  apart  from  most  trees. 

MONKEY  PUZZLE 

The  name  of  this  peculiar  tree,  "Monkey  Puzzle"  (Araucaria  imbricata), 
was  given  it  because  of  its  twisted  branches  which  it  would  puzzle  a  monkey 
to  climb.  It  is  a  native  of  Chile  where  it  forms  forests  on  the  Cordilleras. 
The  leaves,  which  are  short,  broad  and  triangular,  overlap  like  shingles  and 
closely  surround  the  trunk  and  branches.  The  cones,  which  are  about  eight 
inches  broad  and  seven  inches  long,  do  not  appear  until  the  tree  is  quite  old. 
This  tree  thrives  well  in  a  heavy,  loamy  soil,  but  should  not  be  planted  in  an 
exposed  position  since  the  branches  are  heavy  and  brittle  and  if  broken  by 
the  wind  soon  cause  the  tree  to  lose  its  symmetry  of  form.  It  is  extensively 
grown  in  the  open  in  England  and  Ireland  and  is  probably  the  hardiest  of  the 
araucarias  grown  in  this  state. 

BUNYA-BUNYA 

The  Bunya-bunya  (Araucaria  bidwillii)  is  a  native  of  Queensland  where 
it  reaches  a  height  of  1 50  feet.  The  cones  are  as  large  as  a  man's  head  and  bear 
seed  which  are  used  for  food  by  the  natives.  The  leaves  are  flat,  sharp  and  of 
a  glossy-green  color.  The  lower  branches  on  an  old  tree  strike  the  ground 
about  ten  feet  from  the  trunk  and  then  rise  to  a  height  of  about  three  feet. 
For  this  reason  this  tree  as  well  as  the  other  species  of  araucaria  should  be 
planted  with  plenty  of  room  for  development. 

(18) 


Plate   1.      BLACKWOOD    ACACIA.      Sacramento. 

A     symmetrical    tree    with    light    yellow    flowers.     The     blossom    of    the    wattle,    one    of    the    acacias,    is    the    national 
flower    of   Australia. 


Plate   2.      WEEPING     MYALL.      Santa    Barbara. 
An    acacia    whose    chief    ornamental    value    lies    in    its   drooping    foliage. 


CALIFORNIA  NUTMEG 

California  nutmeg  (Torreya  calif ornica),  so  called  because  of  the  re 
semblance  of  its  fruit  to  nutmegs,  is  one  of  the  most  singular,  as  well  as  one 
of  the  most  handsome  of  California  trees.  It  is  found  scattered  along  borders 
of  streams  or  in  creek  bottoms  in  the  Coast  Range  and  Sierra  Nevadas,  rarely 
exceeding  twenty  feet  in  height.  Some  trees  have  been  found  in  the  Santa 
Cruz  Mountains,  however,  that  are  eighty-five  feet  high  and  two  feet  in 
diameter. 

This  tree  was  discovered  in  about  1853  and  specimens  were  sent  to  Dr. 
John  Torrey  of  Columbia  College,  who  worked  out  its  botanical  characteristics. 
It  resembles  the  yew  in  its  general  appearance,  but  the  leaves  are  rigid  with 
sharp  points.  They  are  of  a  shining  green  color,  and  give  the  impression  of 
having  been  glazed  or  varnished.  The  branches  are  spreading  and  are  usually 
whorled.  California  nutmegs  are  little  known  in  cultivation.  They  are 
mainly  grown  in  botanic  gardens  because  of  their  interesting  characteristics  of 
leaf  and  fruit. 

CEDARS,  CYPRESSES  AND  SEQUOIAS 

The  cedars,  cypresses  and  sequoias  embrace  several  genera  of  trees  that 
are  more  or  less  botanically  allied,  and  have  much  in  common  in  form  and 
behavior.  They  are  characterized  by  an  upright  habit  of  branching  and  a  full 
supply  of  foliage  which  makes  them  effective  in  formal  planting  and  as  speci 
men  trees.  They  are  usually  adaptive  to  soil  conditions  and  are  easily  handled. 

The  term  "Cedar,"  which  is  derived  from  a  word  meaning  "life  from  the 
dead,"  is  generally  applied  to  a  wide  range  of  species  belonging  to  different 
genera.  This  is  due  perhaps  to  the  association  of  the  word  with  woods  posess- 
ing  exceptional  durability.  The  Egyptians  used  cedar  oil  for  preserving 
mummies,  and  the  wood  for  mummy  cases.  Carved  figures  of  cedar  wood 
several  thousands  of  years  old  can  be  seen  in  our  museums  of  today.  In  the 
United  States,  southern  red  cedar,  incense  cedar,  Port  Orford  cedar,  western 
red  cedar  and  cypress  are  genera  which  have  species  commonly  known  as 
"cedar." 

The  durability  of  cedar  was  well  known  to  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  who 
says : 

the  fair  cedar,  fallen  before  the  breeze, 
Lies  self-embalmed  amidst  the  mouldering  trees." 

(19) 


CEDRUS 

The  true  cedars  belong  to  the  genus  Cedrus.  which  grows  naturally  in 
Africa,  Asia  Minor  and  India,  and  embraces  only  three  species.  There  are  no 
true  cedars  native  to  this  country,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  we  give  the  name  to 
several  of  our  trees.  Like  our  so-called  cedars,  the  true  cedars  arc  valuable 
timber  trees  in  their  native  habitats.  They  also  have  high  ornamental  value 
and  arc  extensively  planted  on  lawns  and  avenues  in  this  state.  'I  hey  are 
long-lived  trees  of  commanding  appearance.  In  deep,  well-drained,  gravelly 
loam  they  make  rapid  growth  reaching  an  average  height  of  from  eighty  to 
loo  feet.  The  cones  are  borne  erect  and  are  very  striking. 

Cedar  of  Lebanon 

Cedar  of  Lebanon  (Cedrus  libani)  is  native  only  to  certain  restricted  areas 
in  Asia  Minor  and  North  Africa.  It  was  one  of  the  principal  woods  used  in 
the  construction  of  King  Solomon's  temple,  and  frequent  references  are  made 
to  it  in  the  Bible  as  a  symbol  of  power,  prosperity  and  longevity.  The  follow 
ing  passage  is  found  in  the  book  of  Ezekiel : 

"Behold  the  Assyrian  was  a  cedar  in  Lebanon  with  fair  branches. 
and  with  a  shadowing  shroud,  and  of  an  high  stature ;  and  his  top  was 
among  the  thick  boughs.  *  *  *  Therefore  his  height  was  exalted 
above  all  the  trees  of  the  field,  and  his  boughs  were  multiplied,  and  his 
branches  became  long  because  of  the  multitude  of  waters." 

Mount  Lebanon,  on  which  this  cedar^  grows  at  an  elevation  of  6,000 
feet,  is  covered  with  snow  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  but  on  August 
fifth,  the  eve  of  the  Feast  of  the  Transfiguration,  the  people  in  the  surrounding 
villages  visit  the  mountain  and  there  celebrate  the  "Feast  of  Cedars."  The 
400  cedars  that  are  the  remnant  of  the  forest  that  furnished  the  timber  for 
the  temple  at  Jerusalem  are  now  enclosed  by  a  high  stone  wall  and  protected 
by  the  Maronite  monks.  They  are  upwards  of  2000  years  old.  The  best 
preserved  trees  are  about  100  feet  high  and  one  has  a  circumference  of  forty- 
seven  feet. 

The  most  striking  characteristics  of  the  cedar  of  Lebanon  are  its  broad 
spreading  habit  and  broad,  flat  head  of  bright,  bluish-green  foliage.  It  seldom 
reaches  over  eighty  feet  in  height,  but  its  horizontal  branches,  which  spread 

(  20  ) 


00       ^ 


Plate  4.      ACACIA     ELATA.      Los    Angeles. 

"But    he    only    heard    the    gentle    sigh 

Of   the    summer   breeze 
So   softly    passing    by 
The    acacia    trees." 

— Procter. 


from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  on  all  sides,  give  it  a  massive  and  picturesque  ap 
pearance.  Its  appearance  harmonizes  with  the  lines  of  classical  buildings, 
which  has  led  artists  to  show  it  in  pictures  of  terrace  gardens  of  Babylon  and 
Nineveh. 

Mount  Atlas  Cedar 

The  Mount  Atlas  cedar  (Cedrus  atlantica)  is  a  native  of  North  Africa. 
It  is  probable  that  some  of  these  cedars  were  sent  by  Hiram,  King  of  Tyre, 
to  Jerusalem,  at  the  time  King  Solomon's  temple  was  under  construction. 
The  appearance  of  this  tree  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon  except 
that  it  is  more  pyramidal  in  habit  and  the  needles  are  a  yellower  shade  of  green. 
A  variety  of  this  cedar  (Cedrus  atlantica  glauca)  has  silvery  leaves  which  makes 
a  striking  contrast  to  the  dark-green  foliage  of  trees  among  which  it  may  be 
planted.  The  Mount  Atlas  cedar  is  extremely  hardy,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  ornamental  trees  that  we  have. 

Deodar,  Indian  Cedar 

The  deodar  (Cedrus  deodara),  called  the  "God-tree"  of  the  Himalayas, 
forms  forests  in  India  at  elevations  ranging  from '5500  to  11,000  feet.  Here 
it  reaches  a  height  of  1 50  feet  and  a  diameter  of  six  to  eight  feet  under  favor 
able  conditions.  When  young  it  is  a  graceful  pyramidal  tree  with  pendulous 
branch-tips  densely  set  with  long  dark  bluish-green  needles.  The  character 
of  the  foliage  does  not  change  as  the  tree  matures,  but  the  limbs  become 
wide-spreading  and  stately.  The  striking  deodars  on  the  Capitol  grounds  at 
Sacramento  command  the  attention  of  visitors,  and  are  known  throughout 
the  country. 

The  beauty  and  effectiveness  of  the  deodar  as  a  road  and  avenue  tree 
is  beginning  to  be  recognized.  A  drive  at  Kearney  Park  near  Fresno  is  lined 
with  these  trees.  Unfortunately  the  trees  were  spaced  too  close  together 
which  will  make  it  necessary  to  take  out  every  other  tree  in  a  few  years  to  give 
room  for  development  for  the  remaining  trees.  The  tree  does  not  tolerate  freez 
ing,  but  was  noted  in  good  growth  from  San  Diego  to  Ukiah  and  Chico,  which 
indicates  that  it  can  be  planted  through  considerable  range  in  the  state. 


(21) 


THUYA 

The  arborvitae  belong  to  the  genus  Thuya,  a  word  derived  from  the 
Greek  signifying  sacrifice,  probably  because  the  resin  procured  from  the  tree 
was  used  as  incense.  The  Latin  meaning  of  aborvitae  is  "Tree  of  Life,"  which 
signifies  the  reverence  which  prompted  the  name. 

Arborvitae  embraces  four  species  which  are  confined  to  northeastern  and 
southeastern  America,  Japan  and  Northern  China.  Two  species  are  native 
to  America,  one  being  the  white  cedar  of  the  northeastern  United  States,  and 
the  other,  western  red  cedar,  sometimes  called  the  giant  arborvitae  or  gigantic 
cedar. 

Arborvitae  are  tall  and  symmetrical  in  their  native  state  with  a  formal, 
conical  habit.  The  branches  are  spreading  with  flattened  branchlets  covered 
with  leaves  overlapping  like  scales.  Many  garden  forms  have  been  developed 
which  offer  considerable  variety  of  color  and  texture  which  are  desirable 
features  among  evergreen  foliage  plants.  They  make  beautiful  lawn  speci 
mens,  and  are  particularly  effective  near  the  border  of  water.  Some  varieties 
are  well  adapted  for  hedges  since  they  bear  pruning  well.  They  are  easily 
transplanted,  are  adaptable  to  a  variety  of  soils  and  grow  rapidly. 

Giant  Arborvitae 

Giant  arborvitae  (Thuya  gigantea),  attains  magnificent  proportions  in 
its  native  habitat  on  fertile  bottom  lands  near  Puget  Sound  and  Vancouver 
Island  where  specimens  zoo  feet  high  and  fifteen  or  sixteen  feet  in  diameter 
have  been  found.  From  this  tree  the  Indians  have  carved  most  of  their  mas 
sive  totem  poles  some  of  which  are  fifty  feet  in  height.  These  poles  are  strik 
ingly  colored  and  skilfully  hewed  into  grotesque  figures  of  men  and  beasts. 
The  Indians  also  made  war  canoes  from  a  single  cedar  log  which  were  often 
sixty  feet  or  more  in  length,  eight  feet  across  at  the  widest  point,  and  capable 
of  carrying  a  load  upward  of  thirty  tons. 

Giant  arborvitae  does  well  under  cultivation.  It  retains  living  branches 
almost  to  the  ground,  forming  a  stately  and  symmetrical  spire  of  green.  Young 
trees  have  slender,  upcurving  limbs,  but  as  the  tree  increases  in  age  it  gradually 
develops  a  rounded  top.  The  trunk  is  tapering  with  a  fluted  base  on  which  the 
grayish-brown  bark  is  separated  into  narrow  strips  by  seams  which  extend 
irregularly  the  length  of  the  trunk.  It  is  without  doubt  one  of  our  most  hand 
some  native  trees. 

(22) 


.- 


- 
>  »         '_ 


CQ     :_ 


Chinese  Arborvitae 

The  Chinese  arborvitae  (Thuya  orientalis)  has  a  dwarf  habit  and  slow 
growth.  It  is  almost  globular  in  outline  with  bright  green  foliage  which  be 
comes  golden  or  bronze  tinted  during  the  winter.  A  number  of  other  varie 
gated  forms  of  arborvitae  are  handled  by  nurserymen,  all  of  which  have  high 
decorative  value. 

THUYOPSIS 

Japanese  arborvitae  (Thuyopsis  dolobrata)  is  closely  related  to  the  genus 
Thuya,  from  which  it  is  chiefly  distinguished  by  its  greater  breadth  and  bold 
ness  of  foliage,  and  by  the  white  splashes  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves.  In 
Japan  it  grows  in  moist,  dense  forests,  under  the  shade  of  other  trees.  It  is  a 
beautiful  conifer  of  pyramidal  shape  with  the  branchlets  arranged  in  fan 
shape,  much  flattened  and  clothed  with  scale-like,  glossy  green  foliage.  It 
thrives  best  in  a  sheltered  position  in  moist  loamy  soil,  and  is  well  adapted  as 
a  single  specimen  on  a  lawn.  It  grows  better  from  cuttings  than  from  seed. 

CUPRESSUS 

The  cypress  (Cupressus)  was  much  admired  by  the  ancients,  and  it  was 
probably  because  of  its  reputation  that  the  Island  of  Cyprus  was  so  named. 
There  is  a  myth  to  the  effect  that  a  youth  named  Cuparissos,  a  companion  of 
Apollo,  the  Grecian  divinity,  was  turned  into  a  cypress  tree  upon  his  death, 
and  that  this  tree  was  given  the  special  function  of  shading  the  graves  of  those 
who  have  been  greatly  beloved  in  life.  Mythology  relates  that  the  goddess 
Venus  never  appeared  in  the  annual  processions  of  Pan-Athenaic  fame  with 
out  a  cypress  bough  made  manifest  in  her  retinue,  a  symbol  expressive  of  her 
grief  upon  the  death  of  Adonis. 

Horace  writes  that  whatever  was  thought  worthy  to  be  handed  down 
to  posterity  by  the  ancients  was  enclosed  in  cypress  or  cedar  wood.  The 
Biblical  ark,  "pitched  within  and  without,"  was  made  of  gopher  wood,  which  is 
supposed  to  have  been  that  of  the  Italian  cypress.  Herodotus  tells  us  that  the 
Egyptians  used  cypress  for  their  mummy  cases.  Plato  directed  that  his  code 
of  laws  should  be  engraved  on  cypress  wood,  as  being  more  durable  than 
brass. 

The  customs  and  languages  of  the  ages  have  made  cypress  a  symbol  of 
bodily  death  and  spiritual  immortality.  Its  evergreen  character,  monumental 

(23) 


outline,  and  balsamic  odor,  have  no  doubt  contributed  to  the  symbolism 
which  Spencer  summed  up  by  describing  it  as  "the  Cypresse  funerall." 

Cypress  is  an  extremely  long-lived  tree.  Two  cypresses  planted  by 
Michael  Angelo  are  still  living  in  Rome.  In  Lombardy  is  a  cypress  tree 
supposed  to  have  been  planted  in  the  year  of  the  birth  of  Christ.  It  is  over  1 20 
feet  in  height,  and  twenty-three  feet  in  circumference.  In  addition  to  the 
interest  which  arises  from  its  great  age  and  size,  this  tree  has  the  distinction 
of  being  wounded  by  Francis  I,  who  is  said  to  have  stuck  his  sword  into  it 
in  despair  after  his  defeat  at  Pavia.  It  is  said  that  Napoleon  so  respected  this 
tree  that  he  deflected  his  road  over  the  Simplon  in  order  to  avoid  injuring  it. 

The  cypresses  are  tall  or  medium-sized  trees  with  erect  growth  as  a  rule. 
The  cones  are  globular  in  shape  and  when  mature  are  about  an  inch  in  diame 
ter  The  branches  subdivide  to  form  flat  sprays  which  are  closely  covered 
with  small  overlapping  leaves  in  four  rows  There  is  a  curious  Mohammedan 
superstition,  existent  among  the  natives  of  Ceylon,  that  he  who  eats  a  cypress 
leaf  when  it  chances  to  fall  to  the  ground,  has  his  youth  restored  to  him. 
Whittier  depicts  venerable  saints  as  sitting  patiently  under  the  cypress  trees 
of  Ceylon  waiting  the  falling  of  this  much  prized  leaf. 

Monterey  Cypress 

Monterey  cypress  (Cupressus  macrocarfoa)  grows  naturally  only  in  a 
restricted  locality  near  Monterey  Bay  on  the  California  coast.  It  is  widely 
planted  throughout  the  state,  its  dense  foliage  making  it  especially  valuable 
for  windbreaks  and  hedges. 

Italian  Cypress 

The  Italian  cypress  (Cupressm  sempervirens)  is  a  tapering,  cone-like  tree 
with  a  short  stem  below  its  branches,  which  gives  it  much  the  appearance  of 
Lombardy  poplar.  Mature  trees  reach  a  height  of  about  seventy-five  feet.  Its 
columnar  form  gives  it  a  formal  effect  which  is  much  used  in  gardens  and  for 
architectural  effect.  It  makes  splendid  avenues  like  those  of  the  beautiful 
villas  in  Italy,  but  will  lose  its  character  if  planted  in  rich  soil  and  with  plenty 
of  moisture.  In  such  cases  its  lateral  branches  spread  out  under  the  over 
weight  of  foliage. 

The  Italian  cypress  is  very  successful  in  architectural  schemes  as  evi 
denced  by  its  use  at  the  Villa  Borghese  in  Rome.  Professor  Neuhaus  states 

(24) 


ass 


• 


(-.-*•.«•» 


Plate   7.      MONKEY     PUZZLE.      Sacramento. 

A    native   of   Chile,   where   it   forms    forests   on   the    Cordilleras.      It   gets   its   name   from   its   twisted   branches  which   it 
would  puzzle  a  monkey  to   climb. 


seed 


1onrSl  food 


Plate  8.      BUNYA-BUNYA.      Sacramento. 
"  *  ™**  °f    "°   ^     ^   C°^ 


as   Iar^e   as    a 


and   bear 


Plate    10.      GIANT    AKBORVITAE.      Sacramento. 

"And  here's  a  lilt  to  the  cedars, 

Sturdy   of    frame    and    mien. 
Where    the    lordly   oak-tree's    pride   is    fled: 
And   he  stares  as  a   Gorgon,  stark  and  dead, 
There   be    the   cedars   green." 

—William    Frederick   Held 


that  the  effectiveness  of  the  Court  of  Palms  at  the  Panama  Pacific  Exposition 
was  largely  due  to  the  liberal  use  of  these  elegant  trees  with  their  somber 
stateliness. 

Guadalupe  Cypress 

The  Guadalupe  or  blue  cypress  (Cufiressus  guadalujpensis}  does  not  seem 
to  be  as  short-lived  as  the  Monterey  cypress.  It  is  about  seventy  feet  in  height, 
and  has  a  striking  blue  color  to  the  foliage.  It  does  well  on  dry,  rocky  loca 
tions  similar  to  its  native  habitat  on  Guadalupe  Island. 

Arizona  Cypress 

The  Arizona  cypress  (Cufiressus  arizonica)  from  the  mountains  of  northern 
Arizona  has  a  handsome,  brilliant  blue  foliage.  It  does  not  attain  the  height 
of  the  Guadalupe  cypress,  but  will  stand  more  cold  and  drought. 

CHAMAECYPARIS 

The  genus  Chamaecyparis  is  closely  related  to  Cujpressus,  and  for  purposes 
of  distinction  its  members  may  be  called  the  "flat-branched  cypresses,"  since 
the  branchlets  are  always  arranged  so  as  to  lie  in  a  plane.  The  branchlets  are 
drooping  and  feathery  in  appearance. 

The  genus  embraces  five  species,  one  of  which  is  found  in  eastern  United 
States,  two  on  the  Pacific  Coast  and  two  in  Japan.  The  Japanese  have  prop 
agated  several  nursery  varieties  some  of  them  being  dwarf-like  in  habit. 
The  species  which  grow  on  the  Pacific  Coast  in  this  country  reach  a  height 
of  200  feet  or  more  and  are  valuable  lumber  trees.  The  name  Retinpspora  is 
applied  to  some  Japanese  species  of  this  genus  with  juvenile  foliage  retained 
by  artificial  methods  of  propagation. 

Lawson  s  Cypress 

Lawson's  cypress  (Chamaecyparis  lawsoniana)  the  garden  term  for  the 
forest  tree  known  to  lumbermen  as  Port  Orford  cedar,  grows  naturally  in 
restricted  areas  in  Oregon  and  California.  It  was  introduced  into  cultivation 
shortly  after  its  discovery  in  1854.  As  an  ornamental  tree  it  has  a  striking 
appearance  because  of  its  horizontally  spreading  pendulous  branches,  and 
flat  compressed  foliage.  The  lowest  branches  usually  persist  and  spread  widely 
so  that  the  pyramid  rests  directly  on  the  ground.  On  account  of  its  broad 

(25  ) 


base,  this  tree  should  not  be  planted    eloser  than  forty  feet  to  other  trees. 
It  is  not  well  adapted  for  parkings,  but  makes  a  beautiful  lawn  specimen. 

Lawson's  cypress  is  prized  by  nurserymen,  who  have  developed  at  least 
sixty  forms  in  color  and  habit  from  it.  One  of  the  most  striking  is  the  Golden 
Lawson  cypress,  the  young  growth  of  which  has  intensely  yellow  foliage.  Other 
forms  have  foliage  of  rich  green  or  a  bluish  metallic  hue.  The  Japanese  forms 
are  usually  shrubs  or  very  small  trees.  The  Hinoki  cypress  (Chamaecyparis 
oblusa)  is  a  favorite  Japanese  dwarf  tree. 

LIBOCEDRUS 

The  genus  Libocedrus  embraces  eight  species,  one  of  which  is  found  on 
the  Pacific  Coast  in  this  country,  two  in  Chile  and  five  in  the  region  from 
southwestern  China  to  New  Zealand.  The  trees  are  large  with  pyramidal 
habit,  and  graceful  emerald  foliage.  In  many  ways  they  resemble  Lawson's 
cypress  except  that  the  pendent  character  of  the  tips  of  the  branches  is  dis 
tinctive.  They  thrive  best  in  well  drained  soil,  but  are  hardy  and  withstand 
considerable  drought  when  once  established. 

Incense  Cedar 

Incense  cedar  (Libocedrus  decurrens)  occurs  naturally  chiefly  in  the 
Sierras  of  California  where  it  is  found  growing  at  elevations  ranging  from  2000 
to  5000  feet  in  the  north  and  from  3000  to  7000  feet  in  the. south.  The  average 
height  is  from  seventy-five  to  1 10  feet  and  the  average  diameter  from  thirty 
to  forty  inches.  The  largest  trees  are  1 50  feet  in  height  and  ninety-six  inches 
in  diameter. 

Incense  cedar  was  first  observed  by  Fremont  on  the  south  fork  of  the 
American  River  while  on  his  record  expedition  in  1844.  It  is  widely  planted 
as  an  ornamental  and  forms  a  beautiful  specimen  with  its  abundant  semi- 
drooping  foliage  and  columnar  habit.  It  is  not  greatly  disfigured  by  the 
removal  of  the  lower  branches  as  is  the  case  with  so  many  conifers.  As  a 
rule,  however,  it  is  not  advisable  to  remove  the  limbs  of  a  conifer  used  as  a 
specimen  tree  since  this  practice  is  apt  to  mar  its  beauty. 


(26) 


Plate  11.     ARIZONA   ASH.     Los  Angeles. 

A    tree    that    is    destined    to    be   widely   planted   in    California   along   roads   and   highways   because   of   its   ability   to    do 
well  under  adverse  conditions  of  soil  and  moisture. 


Plate   12.     AUSTRALIAN    BRUSH    CHERRY.     Pasadena. 
An    Australian    tree    with    myrtle-like    foliage    and    blossoms    which    is    widely    used    by    landscape    gardeners. 


BALD  CYPRESS 

Bald  cypress  (Taxodium  distichum),  which  traces  its  descent  from  a  very 
ancient  family,  is  one  of  the  few  coniferous  trees  that  sheds  its  leaves  in  winter. 
This  habit  of  becoming  "bald"  in  winter  gave  rise  to  its  first  name.  The 
genus  embraces  three  species,  two  in  Xorth  America  and  one  in  China.  In 
this  country  the  bald  cypress  which  grows  naturally  in  the  swamps  of  the 
South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  regions  is  the  only  one  that  has  a  commercial  value. 
It  is  one  of  the  very  few  species  of  trees  that  will  adapt  itself  to  extremes  of 
moisture  in  the  soil. 

In  its  native  habitat  bald  cypress  reaches  a  height  of  150  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  four  or  five  feet.  The  lower  part  of  the  trunk  bears  huge  but 
tresses,  each  of  which  ends  in  a  long  branching  root  from  the  branches  of  which 
spring  knees  which  rise  above  the  level  of  the  water.  The  knees  are  of  a  soft 
spongy  texture,  and  it  is  supposed  that  they  act  as  breathing  organs,  supply 
ing  the  roots  with  air  which  they  would  otherwise  be  unable  to  obtain  when 
submerged. 

Bald  cypress  has  stout  horizontally  spreading  branches  and  leaves  some 
what  like  those  of  the  redwood.  The  light  green  feathery  foliage  gives  the 
tree  a  most  graceful  appearance.  Under  cultivation  the  knees  are  usually 
absent.  This  tree  does  not  stand  intense  cold,  but  is  adaptive  to  many  soil 
conditions,  and  grows  rapidly,  even  in  a  dry  soil.  Splendid  specimens  of  this 
tree  are  to  be  found  in  Berkeley. 

Of  the  two  related  species  of  bald  cypress,  one  is  a  shrub  native  to  China, 
the  other  a  large  tree  found  in  Mexico  called  the  "Cypress  of  Montezuma"  or 
"Evergreen  cypress"  because  of  the  fact  that  it  retains  its  leaves  throughout 
the  year.  This  tree  was  reverenced  by  the  Indians  long  before  the  discovery 
of  America.  It  is  widely  planted  in  parks  in  Santa  Barbara  and  has  a  striking 
individuality  because  of  its  distinctive  color  and  form. 

SEQUOIA 

The  genus  Sequoia  embraces  two  giant  species  which  are  the  most  magnifi 
cent  trees  in  the  world,  and  which  justly  rank  with  its  natural  wonders.  The 
term  Sequoia  is  in  honor  of  an  Indian  Chief  named  Sequoyah,  the  inventor  of 
the  Cherokee  alphabet.  This  genus  together  with  closely  related  groups 
once  spread  over  the  entire  northern  hemisphere.  Fossil  remains  have  been 

(27) 


found  in  Europe,  Spitzbergen,  Siberia,  Alaska,  Canada  and  Greenland. 
Sequoia  flourished  millions  of  years  ago  when  the  dinosaurs  were  the  most  ad 
vanced  form  of  land  animals,  and  before  the  rocks  that  constitute  the  present 
Sierras  and  Coast  Ranges  in  California  were  laid  clown  in  the  shallow  seas, 
to  be  later  upheaved  and  carved  to  their  present  shapes.  Today  only  two 
kinds  of  Sequoias  are  in  existence  and  their  nearest  living  relative  is  the  bald 
cypress  of  the  Southern  States.  They  are  the  oldest  living  thing  on  earth, 
and  have  probably  never  been  surpassed  by  any  trees  in  the  ages  gone  by  in 
size,  height  or  grandeur. 

Redwood 

Redwood  (Sequoia  semjpervirens)  the  "Palo  Colorado"  of  the  Spanish- 
Americans,  is  found  in  its  natural  state  only  on  a  strip  450  miles  long  and 
twenty  miles  wide,  extending  from  southwestern  Oregon  to  Monterey  County 
in  California  where  it  was  first  discovered  in  1791. 

John  Muir  speaks  of  the  redwood  as  the  glory  of  the  Coast  Range.    Trees 

•from  300  to  350  feet  in  height  and  ten  to  twenty  feet  in  diameter  are  not 

uncommon  and  their  graceful  beauty  is  enhanced  by  the  garden  at  their  feet 

of  fresh,  exuberant  ferns,  lilies  and  rhododendron.     The  age  is  about  half 

that  of  its  cousin  in  the  Sierras,  running  from  500  to  1 300  years. 

Redwood  has  bright,  deep  green  foliage  which  consists  of  two  forms  of 
leaves,  one  of  them  narrow  and  flattened  with  stiff,  sharp  points  and  the 
other  scale-like  and  closely  overlapping.  The  young  tree  forms  an  attractive 
pyramid  of  dense  foliage  which  becomes  conical  in  appearance  as  the  tree 
matures.  Redwood  requires  a  cool,  humid  atmosphere  for  its  best  develop 
ment.  It  has  been  successfully  planted  in  many  parts  of  the  state  as  avenue 
and  specimen  trees. 

Big  Tree 

Big  tree  (Sequoia  gigantea)  is  found  only  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra 
Nevadas  in  California  at  an  altitude  of  from  five  to  eight  thousand  feet  above 
the  sea,  with  a  north  and  south  range  of  about  250  miles.  It  occurs  in  thirty- 
two  more  or  less  isolated  groves,  one  of  the  best  known  being  the  Calaveras 
Grove.  It  is  said  that  the  big  tree  was  first  discovered  in  this  grove  in  1851 
by  a  hunter  in  the  pursuit  of  a  bear. 

(28) 


Plate    13.      BALD    CYPRESS.      Exeter. 

A    tree   that   traces   its   descent  from   a   very   ancient   family.      Its    habit    of    becoming    "bald"    in    the    winter,    through 
shedding   its   needles,    gives   rise    to   its   first   name. 


Plate    14.      SHE  OAK.      San  Diego. 

An   Australian   drought-resisting   tree  with   branches  jointed  like  those  of  the   equisetums.     They  resemble  the  feathers 
of  the   cassowary,  a   large  bird  of  the   East   Indies. 


Big  tree  is  the  largest  tree  in  the  world.  The  General  Sherman  Tree  is 
280  feet  high  with  a  diameter  of  thirty-six  and  one-half  feet.  The  General 
Grant  Tree  is  264  feet  high  with  a  diameter  of  thirty-one  feet.  The  known 
ages  of  trees  which  have  been  cut  is  from  1 100  to  3250  years,  but  it  is  prob 
able  that  some  of  the  largest  standing  trees  may  be  of  greater  age. 

Big  tree  has  been  widely  planted  and  does  well  in  deep,  rich  soils.  It  has 
a  straight  trunk  with  thick  branches  which  at  first  are  ascending,  but  later 
curve  downwards.  The  light  green  leaves  are  spirally  arranged  around  the 
branches.  It  makes  a  handsome  lawn  specimen,  but  should  be  given  plenty 
of  room  to  develop  a  regular,  conical  outline 

JUNIPERUS 

The  junipers  (Juniperus)  are  widely  scattered  over  the  northern  hemis 
phere  extending  as  far  north  as  the  Arctic  Circle  and  as  far  south  as  the  moun 
tains  of  east  tropical  Africa  and  central  China.  This  genus  embraces  about 
thirty-five  species,  eleven  of  which  grow  naturally  in  the  United  States.  The 
best  known  is  the  southern  red  cedar  (Juniperusvirginiana),  an  eastern  species 
which  furnishes  most  of  the  pencil  wood. 

Junipers  are  small  trees  or  shrubs  of  pyramidal  or  columnar  form  and  as 
a  rule  have  two  kinds  of  foliage  which  are  often  found  on  the  same  tree.  Cne 
form  of  leaves  are  needle-like  and  prickly,  while  the  other  form  are  scale- 
like,  overlapping  and  arranged  like  those  of  the  cypresses.  The  origin  of  the 
name  of  Juniper  is  to  be  traced  to  the  Latin  words  juvenis  (young)  and  the 
verb  par  ere  (to  produce).  It  was  probably  so  named  on  account  of  its  habit 
of  producing  the  two  entirely  different  looking  set  of  leaves.  The  junipers  differ 
from  most  of  the  conifers  in  bearing  small  berry-like  fruits  instead  of  cones. 
The  fruit  of  the  juniper  is  used  to  give  gin  its  flavor. 

The  juniper  has  its  accompaniment  of  myths  and  legends.  It  was  con 
secrated  to  the  Furies,  the  smoke  of  its  green  branches  being  the  incense 
offered  to  the  Infernal  Gods,  while  its  berries  were  burnt  at  funerals  to  keep  off 
evil  spirits. 

In  the  Bible  much  is  written  about  the  juniper  in  the  wilderness  where  it 
conferred  the  blessings  of  both  shade  and  food  to  many  a  weary  traveler.  Job 
pictures  such  a  one  who  made  a  meal  off  the  fruit  of  a  juniper  bush  under 
which  he  rested.  On  the  other  hand,  Dr.  Johnson,  the  renowned  lexicographer, 

(29) 


stated  that  its  taste  was  bitter  and  its  shade  had  a  baleful  influence  on  man 
and  beast.  We  can  find  no  basis  for  these  assumptions,  and  accept  the  juniper 
as  a  tree  of  graceful  beauty  in  our  lawns  and  gardens. 

The  junipers  are  adaptive  to  adverse  soil  and  atmospheric  conditions  and 
will  thrive  on  rocky  hillsides  or  along  the  seashore  where  living  conditions  are 
harsh.  Their  growth  is  slow,  and  they  are  less  symmetrical  than  most  conifers, 
but  their  hardiness  and  freedom  from  pests  make  them  valuable  trees  on  arid 
locations.  Of  the  exotic  species  cultivated  in  California  the  most  common 
are  the  European  and  Japanese  forms. 

California  Juniper 

The  California  juniper  (Juniperus  call/arnica)  is  a  small  tree  of  spreading 
habit  which  grows  naturally  in  dry  situations.  The  foliage,  which  is  a  deep 
rich  green,  is  borne  on  a  broad  open  head.  It  is  not  commonly  cultivated  by 
nurseries,  but  small  transplanted  trees  should  do  well  because  of  the  ability 
of  the  tree  to  resist  adverse  soil  and  moisture  conditions. 

Creeping  Japanese  Juniper 

I  he  creeping  Japanese  juniper  (Juniperus  chinensis  procumbent)  is  a  dense, 
dwarf  shrub  with  trailing  branches  and  glaucous  foliage.  It  is  well  adapted 
for  rock  gardens,  or  for  forming  groundwork  for  hiding  bare  ground  under 
large  trees. 

CRYPTOMERIA 

Japanese  cedar  (Cryptomeria  japonica)  claims  a  Greek  origin  for  its 
generic  name.  The  Greek  word,  kryptos,  signifies  hidden,  and  the  word 
meros,  part,  and  it  is  supposed  that  this  tree  was  so  christened  on  account 
of  a  hidden  relationship  with  the  cedar.  It  differs  from  the  cedar,  however, 
in  many  respects.  It  has  long,  awl-shaped  leaves  and  loose,  open  branches 
which  ascend  at  the  extremities.  The  bark,  which  is  cinnamon  colored,  peels 
readily  from  the  larger  trees.  It  is  a  large  pyramidal  tree  at  maturity  with  a 
distinguished  appearance,  which  is  probably  the  reason  it  is  called  "Peacock 
Pine  by  the  Chinese.  There  is  a  variety  known  as  elegans  which  has  very 
fine  and  feathery  foliage  which  changes  from  a  rich  green  in  summer  to  a 
bronzy  red  in  winter. 

(  30  ) 


Plate    15.    WHITE    BIRCH.      Golden    Gate    Park. 

"The   birch,   most  shy  and   ladylike   of  trees." 

-    Lowell. 


Plate    16.     WEEPING   BIRCH.      San   Jose. 

"While  o'er  our   heads   the  weeping   birch   tree   streamed 
Its   branches,    circling    like   a    fountain    shower." 

—"Isle   of   Palms/ 


An  interesting  feature  of  this  tree,  which  is  the  national  tree  of  Japan,  is 
its  antiquity.  Its  lineage,  like  that  of  our  Sequoias,  can  be  traced  to  a  very 
remote  geological  period  In  Japan  it  forms  extensive  forests  towering  above 
undergrowing  ferns,  mosses,  and  lichens  as  do  our  redwoods. 

DOUGLAS  FIR 

Douglas  fir  (Pseudotsuga  taxi/olio.)  derives  its  formidable  generic  name, 
which  means  "false  hemlock,"  from  a  combination  of  a  Greek  with  a  Japanese 
word.  The  name  indicates  its  relation  with  the  hemlocks,  but  it  has  botanical 
differences  which  caused  it  to  be  classified  as  a  distinct  genus.  This  tree  goes 
under  the  name  of  red  fir,  Oregon  pine,  and  Douglas  spruce,  but  the  commonly 
accepted  name  among  foresters  is  Douglas  fir.  It  was  collected  in  1826  by 
David  Douglas,  a  Scottish  botanist  who  was  sent  to  the  United  States  as  a 
collector  by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  Few  men  are  commemorated 
by  a  more  impressive  monument  since  Douglas  fir  is  one  of  the  most  im 
portant  timber  trees  in  the  world.  It  grows  throughout  the  Pacific  Coast 
region  and  the  Rocky  Mountains  from  British  Columbia  to  northwestern 
Texas,  Mexico  and  the  mountains  of  California,  a  range  of  over  2000  miles 
from  north  to  south  and  nearly  1000  miles  from  east  to  west. 

With  the  exception  of  redwood,  no  other  tree  of  our  continent  attains 
larger  size.  The  tallest  Douglas  fir  on  record  has  a  height  of  380  feet.  Trees 
fifteen  feet  in  diameter  are  not  uncommon  and  single  trees  have  been  cut  that 
scaled  60,000  feet,  board  measure.  On  the  lowlands  of  the  north  Pacific  Coast 
the  trees  stand  close  together,  with  trunks  forming  cylindrical  columns  as 
straight  as  arrows  and  almost  without  branches  for  200  feet.  A  flagstaff  now 
in  the  Kew  Gardens  in  England  came  from  a  tree  felled  in  British  Columbia. 
It  is  159  feet  long  and  tapers  from  a  diameter  of  twenty-two  inches  to  one  of 
eight  inches. 

Douglas  fir  is  readily  distinguished  from  all  other  native  cone-bearing 
trees  by  the  feathered  appearance  of  the  cones  which  is  due  to  flexible  bracts 
that  extend  beyond  the  cone  scales.  The  leaves  are  blunt  at  the  point  and  soft 
and  flat  with  tiny  stems  which  permit  them  to  arrange  themselves,  feather 
like,  on  opposite  sides  of  the  branches.  In  reality  they  are  spaced  all  the  way 
around  the  branch,  and  the  successive  leaves  form  spirals. 

(31  ) 


When  Douglas  fir  is  planted  as  an  ornamental  the  growth  is  erect  and 
very  rapid.  It  has  graceful  proportions  and  a  rich,  dark  green  foliage  which 
has  a  feathery  appearance  on  the  pendulous  branchlets.  The  pendent  cones 
add  to  its  beauty.  It  is  adaptive  to  soils,  but  prefers  lighter  ones.  To  empha 
size  its  beauty  it  is  best  planted  as  a  single  tree. 

FIRS 

The  true  firs  (Abies)  embrace  some  twenty-three  species  which  chiefly 
occur  in  the  mountainous  regions  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  That  fir  has 
a  place  in  history  is  revealed  by  Virgil's  description  of  the  wooden  horse  of 
Troy  which  was  constructed  from  fir  from  Mount  Ida: 

"The  leaders  of  the  Greeks  *  *  *  build,  with  the  aid  of  the 
divine  skill  of  Pallas,  a  horse  as  huge  as  a  mountain,  and  form  the 
sides  of  interlacing  planks  of  fir." 

In  these  days  fir  is  not  highly  regarded  as  a  timber  tree  on  the  Pacific 
Coast  where  about  a  third  of  all  known  species  are  native,  but  it  has  a  high 
value  as  an  ornamental  tree.  The  firs  are  distinguished  for  their  symmetry 
and  formal  branch  habit.  The  branches  are  arranged  in  tiers,  and  by  side 
branching  form  wide,  flat  sprays,  covered  with  blunt-pointed,  flat  leaves,  the 
under  sides  of  which  are  a  silvery-white.  The  needles  are  stemless,  and  the 
cones,  which  are  erect,  fall  to  pieces  at  maturity,  leaving  a  slender,  woody  axis 
on  the  tree. 

The  firs  endure  much  shade,  and  make  a  rapid  growth  in  a  cool,  moist 
atmosphere  and  on  a  well-drained  soil.  They  are  rather  short-lived  and  are 
apt  to  suffer  from  drought,  frost  and  fungi. 

WHITE  FIR 

White  fir  (Abies  concolor)  also  known  as  silver  fir,  is  a  beautiful  tree  that 
is  common  in  the  Sierra  region  of  California.  It  has  long,  slender,  light-green 
needles  which  form  a  decided  contrast  with  its  ashy-gray  bark.  The  growth 
is  very  regular  and  symmetrical,  which  makes  the  tree  effective  whether  in 
groups  or  singly  in  the  park  or  lawn. 

NORDMAN'S  SILVER  FIR 

Nordman's  silver  fir  (Abies  nordmanniana)  is  a  native  of  the  Caucasus 
Mountains,  where  it  attains  a  height  of  1 50  feet.  Under  cultivation  it  grows 

(32) 


slowly  but  eventually  becomes  a  large  tree.  The  branches  are  wide  spreading 
and  the  foliage  rich  and  lustrous,  dark-green  above  and  silvery  underneath. 
This  is  one  of  the  best  firs  for  ornamental  purposes,  since  it  is  hardy  and 
retains  its  fine  form  for  a  long  period. 

SPANISH  FIR 

Spanish  fir  (Abies  pinsapo)  is  a  small  tree  which  is  of  interest  because 
of  its  rigid,  acute  leaves  which  entirely  surround  the  branchlets.  It  is  planted 
chiefly  as  a  specimen  tree,  and  is  best  adapted  to  a  warm  climate. 

SILVER  FIR 

The  European  silver  fir  (Abies pectinata)  reaches  a  height  of  150  feet  in  its 
native  haunts.  It  towers  far  above  its  companions  of  the  woodlands,  which 
led  Hood  to  say : 

"I  remember,  I  remember, 
The  fir  trees  tall  and  high, 
I  used  to  think  their  slender  spires 
Were  close  against  the  sky." 

This  silver  fir  does  well  in  California,  particularly  in  Berkeley,  where  it 
forms  a  dignified  ornamental  tree.  It  resembles  Nordman's  fir  except  that  it 
has  shorter  leaves  and  usually  more  open  growth.  The  needles  are  dark,  glossy 
green  above  and  silvery  beneath. 

GINKGO 

The  ginkgo  (Ginkgo  biloba)  often  called  the  maidenhair  tree  because  of 
the  resemblance  of  its  foliage  to  that  of  the  maidenhair  fern,  is  a  native  of 
China  and  Japan.  The  ginkgo  was  introduced  into  this  country  not  many 
years  ago  from  England.  It  is  a  remnant  of  a  widely  represented  genus  of 
ancient  times,  and  has  been  preserved  for  ages  about  the  temples  of  the 
Orient. 

There  is  a  ginkgo  standing  in  a  courtyard  of  a  monastery  in  the  vicinity 
of  Peking  which  is  said  to  have  been  planted  by  Emperor  Yung  Lo  (1360- 
1424).  The  Chinese  name,  Pai-kuo-shu  (white- fruited  tree)  is  derived  from 
the  appearance  of  the  fruit. 

The  tree  is  a  botanical  curiosity,  for  although  it  is  classed  with  the  cone- 
bearing  trees,  it  bears  fleshy  fruit  instead  of  cones  and  broad,  fan-shaped 

3—11898  (33) 


deciduous  leaves  instead  of  needles.]  The  flower  largely  determines  its  position 
in  botanical  classification,  the  staminate  and  the  pistillate  flowers  being  borne 
on  different  branches  of  the  same  tree.  The  female  flowers  consist  of  two 
naked  ovules  which  receive  the  pollen.  These  ripen  into  the  fruit  of  the 
ginkgo,  which  resembles  a  small  plum.  The  fleshy  part  is  ill-scented,  but  the 
kernels,  which  have  a  sweetish  flavor,  are  highly  esteemed  for  food  and  for  their 
medicinal  value  by  the  Chinese. 

The  ginkgo  is  a  picturesque  tree,  due  to  its  straggling  branch  habit  and 
irregular,  open,  conical  form.  It  seldom  exceeds  a  height  of  sixty  feet  in  the 
Orient  and  in  this  country  its  maximum  height  is  about  forty  feet.  It  is 
becoming  a  favorite  tree  for  street  planting  because  of  its  upright  habit, 
attractive  foliage  and  apparent  immunity  from  insect  injury.  The  leaves 
are  clear  green  in  the  spring  and  early  summer,  changing  in  the  fall  to  a  soft 
yellow  shortly  before  defoliation. 

Exquisite  landscape  effects  may  be  obtained  by  planting  the  ginkgo  in 
lawns  and  parks,  especially  where  it  is  massed  with  deciduous  trees  and 
shrubs  with  leathery,  dark  green  foliage.  It  is  also  a  good  street  tree  and  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  lines  an  avenue  leading  to  the  Agriculture  Building. 

PINES 

The  Greeks  dedicated  the  pine  to  Bacchus,  and  its  cone,  the  symbol 
of  fecundity,  decorated  that  god's  thyrsus.  Its  evergreen  character  is  ac 
counted  for  by  an  ancient  legend.  Atys,  a  Phrygian  shepherd,  loved  Cybele, 
the  mother  of  the  gods,  and  vowed  to  be  ever  faithful  to  her.  He  broke  his 
vow,  and  she  in  anger  changed  him  into  a  pine  tree  beneath  which  she  spent 
her  time  mourning.  Jupiter  sought  to  comfort  her  by  promising  that  the  pine 
should  never  be  bereft  of  its  leaves. 

The  pine  has  been  termed  the  Aeolian  harp  of  the  forest.  Richard  Jeffries 
describes  its  music  which  forever  floats  upon  the  breeze  as  follows: 

"Over  in  the  field  the  row  of  pines  was  sighing;  the  wind  lingered 
and  clung  to  the  close  foliage,  and  each  needle  of  the  million  million 
leaflets  drew  its  tongue  across  the  organ  blast." 

The  pines  embrace  about  seventy  species  and  its  members  excel  all  other 
cone-bearing  trees  in  the  extent  of  area  occupied,  and  in  usefulness  and  im 
portance  to  the  human  race.  Some  species  are  found  on  dry  soils,  and  some  in 

(34) 


Plate    17.     VICTORIAN    BOTTLE    TREE.     Pasadena. 
An   Australian   tree  with   a   peculiar  pyramidal   trunk  growth   and   bright    glossy   leaves   of   many   different    shapes. 


d    flowers!"   '* 


Plate    18.      BRISBANE    BOX.      Berkeley. 

^    '"    *'"'   S°Uth  Wa'eS    °"    dty    boulevards- 


has    broad    shinins    leaves    and 


swamps,  with  representatives  ranging  almost  to  the  Arctic  and  to  near  the 
equator.  Some  of  the  pines  are  tall,  like  the  Norwegian  pines  which  Milton 
refers  to  as  mere  wands  compared  to  the  spear  which  Satan  used  "to  support 
uneasy  steps  over  the  burning  marl,"  and  some  are  mere  shrubs  at  timber 
line. 

The  pines  are  closely  associated  with  the  development  of  this  country. 
When  the  Pilgrims  landed  at  Plymouth  they  beheld  the  white  pine  "on  a  stern 
and  rock-bound  coast,"  and  adopted  it  as  their  emblem  on  the  historic  pine 
tree  shilling.  Later,  Maine  became  a  great  producer  of  white  pine  and  is 
still  called  the  Pine  Tree  State.  In  1635  a  cargo  of  white  pine  masts  was 
shipped  to  England,  and  cargoes  of  lumber  were  sent  from  New  England  to 
Africa  to  be  paid  for  in  slaves  that  were  sold  in  Virginia  and  the  West  Indies. 

The  pine  forests  of  the  southern  United  States  have  long  furnished  more 
pine  lumber  than  any  other  closely  related  group  of  timber  trees  in  this 
country,  but  these  once  extensive  forests  are  now  disappearing  even  as  did  the 
white  pine  of  New  England  and  the  Lake  States.  The  pines  of  the  Western 
States,  which  include  the  sugar  pine,  the  largest  of  the  pines,  and  the  western 
yellow  pine,  are  now  being  cut  and  shipped  to  the  East  where  pine  was  for 
merly  so  abundant. 

Although  the  pines  are  known  chiefly  for  their  value  for  timber,  yet  there 
are  a  number  of  species  which  are  highly  ornamental.  By  the  use  of  large 
masses  and  proper  variety  as  a  background,  a  characteristic  sky-line  can  be 
secured  which  cannot  be  excelled  by  the  use  of  any  other  group  of  trees.  The 
pines  have  a  less  formal  habit  than  the  spruces,  and  not  as  dense  a  foliage. 
The  needles  are  long,  in  bundles  of  from  one  to  five,  and  on  old  trees  are 
crowded  in  tufts  to  the  end  of  the  branches.  The  conical  form  of  young  trees 
changes  at  maturity  to  a  broad,  flattened  crown  of  picturesque  appearance. 
Pines  have  a  touch  of  mistiness  due  to  their  form  and  coloration  which  led 
Tennyson  to  connect  their  thick  boughs  with  "many  a  cloudy  hollow."  All 
the  pines  are  light-needing,  but  are  easily  handled  and  under  favorable  con 
ditions  make  rapid  growth. 

STONE  PINE 

The  stone  pine  (Pinus  jpinea)  is  the  first  pine  mentioned  in  ancient  writ 
ings.  There  is  a  myth  of  ancient  Greece  that  Pan,  the  god  who  presided  over 
country  regions,  attempted  to  win  the  love  of  a  nymph  of  Mount  Taygetus, 

(35) 


where  he  then  had  his  abode.  Boreas,  the  god  of  the  north  wind,  became  a 
rival  of  Pan  and,  in  a  fit  of  anger,  blew  the  nymph  down  from  a  high  precipice. 
Pan  saw  her  falling  and  though  unable  to  save  her  life  changed  her  form  to 
that  of  a  pine  tree.  From  that  time  pine  trees  have  been  seen  clinging  to  rocky 
mountain  sides  and  growing  in  the  exposed  places  of  the  earth. 

The  stone  pine  is  a  conspicuous  feature  in  the  landscape  of  Rome,  and  a 
favorite  with  artists,  who  use  its  massive  head  in  their  Italian  scenes  as  a  foil 
to  the  limpid  azure  of  the  sky.  Pliny  describes  the  great  eruption  of  Vesuvius 
in  A.  D.  79  and  compares  the  form  of  the  stone  pine  to  the  mass  of  smoke 
which  arose  from  the  volcano.  Just  as  the  mingled  steam  and  dust  arose  from 
the  crater  in  a  vertical  column  and  then  spread  laterally  on  all  sides,  so  does 
the  stone  pine  rise  unbranched  to  a  considerable  height  and  then  send  out 
its  branches  in  a  more  or  less  flat  mass  at  the  summit. 

In  Pliny's  time  the  nuts  of  the  stone  pine  were  preserved  in  honey,  and  are 
now  commonly  used  as  food.  On  the  islands  in  the  sea  of  Marmora,  where 
the  tree  is  common,  the  cones  are  exposed  to  fire  to  make  them  open  and  drop 
out  their  seeds,  which  are  known  in  Turkish  as  "fistils."  The  French  call  the 
seed  "pignons."  It  is  from  the  bony  shell  in  which  the  seed  is  enclosed  that 
the  tree  derives  its  name. 

The  stone  pine  has  a  trunk  covered  with  rugged,  deep  fissured,  thick 
red-gray  bark.  It  forks  at  a  short  distance  from  the  ground  and  sends  out 
massive,  spreading  branches  of  great  length  which  form  a  flat  and  round 
topped  crown.  The  shiny  green  needles,  which  are  quite  long,  together  with 
the  unique  umbrella-shaped  crown  afford  a  valuable  aid  to  landscape  planting. 
Excellent  specimens  are  to  be  seen  in  the  Capitol  Park  at  Sacramento.  In  its 
native  land  the  stone  pine  attains  a  height  of  about  seventy-five  feet,  but  in 
this  state  the  finest  specimens  do  not  exceed  fifty  feet  in  height.  It  is  mod 
erately  long  lived  and  is  hardy  in  regions  where  there  are  no  heavy  frosts. 

AUSTRIAN  PINE 

The  Austrian  pine  (Pinm  laricio  austriaca)  is  a  robust  hardy,  spreading 
tree  with  stout,  blunt  branches  and  rich  glossy,  dark-green  foliage.  It  is  a 
variety  of  the  Corsican  pine  which  is  a  native  of  southern  Europe  and  which 
was  adopted  in  1788  for  masts  for  the  French  navy. 

(36) 


Plate   19.      EUROPEAN    BUCKEYE.      Sacramento. 
A  handsome  flowering  tree  with  palmate  leaves  and  large    leaflets.      The    flowers    are    borne    in    erect    panicles. 


Plate  20.      EUROPEAN    BUCKEYE    BLOSSOMS.      San    Luis    Obispo. 

"Glorious   array'd  : 
Por    in    its    honor    prodigal    nature   weaves 

A    princely   vestment,    and    profusely   showers 
O'er   its   green   masses   of  broad   palmy  leaves 
Ten    thousand    waxen    pyramidal    flowers." 
—  Forest    Minstrel. 


In  the  Austrian  forests  this  tree  reaches  a  height  of  eighty  to  120  feet 
and  a  diameter  of  three  feet.  It  grows  rapidly  and  well  adapts  itself  to  a 
variety  of  soils.  On  account  of  its  dense  foliage  it  is  suitable  for  backgrounds 
in  landscape  architecture.  It  has  a  long  tap  root  which  makes  it  wind  firm 
and  this  quality  together  with  its  compact  foliage  makes  it  desirable  for  wind 
breaks.  It  is  also  well  adapted  for  planting  in  cities, .since  it  is  highly  resistant 

to  smoke. 

MONTEREY  PINE 

The  Monterey  pine  (Pinus  radiata)  is  a  native  of  California  where  it 
occurs  in  patches  for  a  distance  of  130  miles  along  the  coast  south  of  San 
Francisco  Bay.  It  reaches  its  best  development  near  Monterey,  where  the 
trees  average  forty  to  sixty  feet  high  and  one  to  two  feet  in  diameter.  Near 
the  sea  the  trees  lose  their  upright  character  and  are  distorted  by  the  wind 
into  many  fantastic  shapes.  Monterey  pine  is  not  cut  into  lumber  these 
days  because  of  the  knottiness  of  the  wood,  but  the  early  Spaniards  used  it 
somewhat  for  boat  building  eighty  years  ago. 

From  early  days  this  tree  has  been  extensively  planted  for  ornamental 
purposes  and  windbreaks,  not  only  in  California  but  in  England  and  Aus 
tralia  where  it  makes  a  remarkable  growth.  It  has  a  very  symmetrical,  narrow 
and  round  topped  crown,  and  rich  green  leaves  beautifully  arranged  in  clumps 
on  the  branches.  The  growing  season  is  practically  continuous.  At  Berkeley 
trees  attain  a  height  of  sixty  to  ninety  feet  in  thirty  years. 

The  Monterey  pine  is  a  comparatively  short-lived  species  and  begins  to 
show  signs  of  old  age  under  cultivation  at  the  end  of  thirty-five  or  forty  years. 
It  will  not  thrive  on  wet  soils,  preferring  the  slopes,  bluffs,  ridges  and  the  well 
drained  soils  of  the  coast.     It  thrives  best  when  the  annual  rainfall  averages, 
about  seventeen  inches. 

For  a  rapid  growth  conifer,  this  species  is  unexcelled.  It  is  useful  for  soil 
protection  in  semiarid  regions,  and  serves  well  as  a  windbreak  tree,  besides 
being  good  for  fuel.  Its  short  life  and  susceptibility  to  insects  and  fungous 
diseases,  however,  are  disadvantages  which  often  cause  other  species  to  be 

chosen. 

TORREY  PINE 

Torrey  pine  (Pinus  torreyana)  occurs  naturally  only  in  a  small  area  on 
the  California  coast  at  Del  Mar  near  San  Diego  and  on  Santa  Rosa  Island.  It 

(37) 


was  discovered  in  1850  and  named  in  honor  of  Professor  John  Torrey  of 
Columbia  College,  a  student  of  western  plants  in  California  before  the  clays 
of  the  overland  railroad.  The  city  of  San  Diego  has  included  the  little  group 
of  these  rare  trees  at  Del  Mar  in  a  city  park  in  order  that  they  may  be  carefully 
protected  against  despoliation. 

In  its  native  state,  the  Torrey  pine  is  a  short  stocky  tree  about  forty 
feet  high  and  a  foot  in  diameter.  In  situations  exposed  to  strong  sea  winds  it 
is  semiprostrate  with  its  crown  sprawling  to  leeward.  Under  the  influence 
of  cultivation,  it  develops  a  totally  different  habit  and  is  symmetrical  with 
regular  whorls  of  branches.  It  grows  rapidly  and  with  its  foliage  in  heavy 
tufts  on  the  ends  of  the  branchlets  makes  an  attractive  tree.  It  is  planted  as 
an  ornamental,  particularly  in  southern  California,  with  much  success. 

BIG-CONE  PINE 

The  big-cone  pine  (Pinus  coulteri)  was  first  collected  by  Dr.  Thomas 
Coulter  in  1831,  who  found  it  on  the  mountains  of  Santa  Lucia  near  the 
mission  of  San  Antonio,  in  latitude  36  degrees,  within  sight  of  the  sea  and  at 
an  elevation  of  from  3000  to  4000  feet  above  its  level.  This  pine,  which  has 
the  largest  cone  borne  by  any  pine,  closely  resembles  the  western  yellow  pine 
in  habit  except  that  the  foliage  is  pale  or  yellowish  green  as  contrasted  with 
the  bright  green  masses  of  yellow  pine  leaves. 

It  reaches  a  height  of  ninety  feet  in  its  native  habitat  in  the  southern 
coast  mountains  of  California  with  a  trunk  sometimes  four  feet  in  diameter. 
It  is  most  abundant  on  the  San  Bernardino  and  San  Jacinto  ranges  at  eleva 
tions  of  about  5000  feet.  The  seeds  were  formerly  gathered  and  eaten  by  the 
Indians  of  southern  California. 

Big-cone  pine  is  planted  somewhat  as  an  ornamental  on  account  of  its 
striking  foliage  and  cones,  but  its  chief  importance  is  for  a  cover  on  arid  slopes 
where  other  species  will  not  grow. 

CANARY  ISLAND  PINE 

The  Canary  Island  pine  (Pinus  canariensis),  or  blue  pine  as  it  is  often 
called,  is  a  native  of  the  Canary  Islands.  It  does  very  well  under  cultivation, 
especially  in  southern  California,  where  it  is  said  to  grow  as  fast,  if  not  faster, 
than  Monterey  pine,  a  native  tree  of  remarkable  growth.  The  long  pendent 
needles  of  a  glaucous  blue  color  give  the  tree  a  distinctive  appearance.  The 

(38) 


E    £ 


branches  are  slender,  and  form,  at  maturity,  a  broad,  round-topped  head 
although  the  young  trees  have  the  pyramidal  form  characteristic  of  conifers. 
Canary  Island  pine  stands  drought  well,  and  has  the  peculiarity,  possessed  by 
only  a  few  of  the  conifers,  of  sprouting  from  the  stump  when  cut  down. 

ALEPPO  PINE 

The  Aleppo  pine  (Pinus  halepensis)  is_  a  native  of  the  Mediter 
ranean  region  which  thrives  well  on  arid  situations  in  California,  where 
it  is  particularly  adaptable  for  seaside  planting.  It  is  a  tree  of  rapid 
growth  and  spreading  habit,  the  younger  branches  often  assuming  a  peculiar 
twisted  appearance.  The  needles  are  short,  grayish  in  color,  and  occur  in 
tufts  on  the  ends  of  the  branchlets.  The  tree  reaches  a  height  of  about  sixty 
feet  and  has  an  open  appearance  which  does  not  lead  to  its  choice  as  an  orna 
mental  where  more  attractive  foliage  trees  will  flourish.  Its  chief  merit  is  its 
ability  to  flourish  under  adverse  soil  and  atmospheric  conditions. 

SPRUCES 

The  spruces  (Picea)  are  often  confused  with  the  firs  (Abies),  from  which 
they  can  easily  be  distinguished  by  their  needles,  which  are  borne  on  short 
leaf  stalks  instead  of  directly  on  the  branches,  as  in  the  case  with  firs.  The 
little  stalks  that  remain  after  the  needles  fall  give  the  branches  a  rough  ap 
pearance.  The  cones  are  pendent  instead  of  erect  and  do  not  lose  their  scales 
as  do  those  of  the  firs.  * 

The  spruces  are  naturally  tall  trees  of  symmetrical  habit,  with  spreading 
whorled  branches  densely  clothed  with  sharp-pointed,  four-sided  needles. 
There  are  at  least  eighteen  species  found  in  the  northern  hemisphere,  nearly 
all  of  them  being  under  cultivation.  Spruce  is  extensively  planted  as  a  forest 
tree  by  European  foresters  to  serve  as  a  nurse  for  the  young  oaks  or  elms  that 
are  planted  beneath  its  dense  foliage. 

The  spruces  in  the  Vosges  Mountains  of  Europe  produce  a  resin  which 
is  of  considerable  value.  It  oozes  from  cracks  in  the  bark  of  the  trees  and  when 
treated  forms  the  medicinal  Burgundy  pitch.  The  generic  term  Picea  was 
derived  from  the  Latin  word  meaning  pitch,  and  it  was  the  spruce  that  pro 
vided  the  pix  Liquida,  the  boiling  liquid  pitch  that  was  employed  for  purposes 
of  torture  in  the  days  of  the  early  Roman  Empire. 

(39) 


Weighted  with  loads  of  snow  or  tossed  by  boisterous  winds,  the  spruce, 
as  seen  in  Alpine  landscapes,  is  attractive  to  artists.  "It  is,"  says  Sir  Thomas 
Lauder,  "the  great  tree  of  the  Alps,  and  is  so  mentally  associated  with  the 
grandeur  of  Swiss  scenery  that  the  sight  of  it  never  fails  to  touch  chords  in  our 
bosom  which  awaken  the  most  pleasing  recollections.  What  can  be  more 
truly  sublime  than  to  behold,  opposed  to  the  intensely  blue  ether,  the  glazed 
white  summits  of  Mount  Blanc,  or  the  Jungfrau,  rising  above  the  interminable 
forests  of  spruces  which  clothe  the  bases  of  the  mountains?" 

The  spruce  tree  serves  for  more  than  beauty  since  it  is  from  its  wood  that 
the  frontal  part  of  the  violins  of  Brescian  and  Cremonese  fame  were  con 
structed.  It  was  from  the  wood  of  the  spruce,  in  preference  to  all  other  woods, 
that  the  violins  of  Antonius  Stradivarius  were  made,  and  which  now  fetch 
such  fabulous  prices.  Choice  specimens  of  spruce  wood  were  selected  by  the 
old  fiddle  designers,  and  we  can  readily  picture  them  exploring  the  mountain 
sides  to  find  the  trees  which  would  best  furnish  them  with  the  resonant  wood 
they  needed  for 

"That  small,  sweet  thing 
Devised  in  love  and  fashioned  cunningly 
Of  wood  and  strings." 

NORWAY  SPRUCE 

Norway  spruce  (Picea  excelsa)  is  a  native  of  northern  Europe,  where  it 
was  the  original  Christmas  tree.  It  has  a  graceful,  flowing  outline  of  light 
green  foliage.  The  growth  is  rapid  and  the  branches  compact  which  well 
adapts  it  for  windbreaks  or  shelters.  Like  many  of  the  spruces  and  firs,  it  is 
apt  to  lose  its  beauty  when  it  reaches  an  age  of  fifty  years. or  more,  and  become 
thin  and  ragged  in  the  top.  Several  varieties  of  this  tree  have  been  developed 
by  nurserymen,  one  of  the  most  picturesque  being  a  weeping  variety  with 
irregular  drooping  branches. 

COLORADO  BLUE  SPRUCE 

The  Colorado  blue  spruce  (Picea  pungens)  has  a  striking  appearance  clue 
to  the  bluish  tinge  of  its  foliage.  Koster,  a  nurseryman,  developed  a  variety 
with  extremely  silvery  foliage  by  grafting  on  Norway  spruce  stock.  This 
spruce  is  highly  ornamental  and  is  commonly  used  to  add  emphasis  to  a  lawn. 
Care  should  be  taken,  however,  not  to  make  this  emphasis  too  bold.  As  a 

(40) 


Plate  23.      ISLAND    IRONWOOD.      Berkeley. 

Native   only   to   the   islands  off   the   coast   of   Southern    California.      It    is    a    rare   species   which    is   worthy   of   trial   as   a 
street   tree   because   of   its   erect   habit   of  growth,   moderate   spread   and   narrow   crown. 


Plate  24.      CATALPA.      Fresno. 
A   t.ee   that   is   noticeable   for    its   large,   heart-shaped   leaves   and    panicles   of   white,    fragrant    flower 


Plate  25.      CATALPA    BLOSSOMS.     Fresno. 
The   tubular    bignonia-like   flowers    nestle    among   the    large,   heart-shaped   leaves. 


Plate   26.      INCENSE    CEDAR.      Visalia. 

'Its    bright    brown    shafts   and    warm    masses    of   plumy   foliage    make   a    striking   feature   of    the    landscape." 

— John    Muir. 


rule,  the  best  effects  are  obtained  by  associating  it  with  evergreens  of  a  less 
spectacular  color.  When  this  is  done,  its  striking  characteristics  will  not  appear 
gaudy,  but  will  harmonize  with  the  other  trees  in  the  background  in  a  pleasing 
manner. 

ORIENTAL  SPRUCE 

The  oriental  spruce  (Picea  orientalis)  from  Asia  is  one  of  the  most  delicate 
and  graceful  of  all  spruces.  It  has  about  the  same  color  as  Norway  spruce, 
but  with  more  slender  branches  and  shorter  leaves.  It  grows  very  slowly  and 
is  well  adapted  for  small  grounds. 

SITKA  SPRUCE 

Sitka  spruce  (Picea  sitchensis)  also  known  as  tideland  spruce,  which  is 
of  so  great  importance  for  aeroplane  material  because  of  its  strength,  elas 
ticity,  straight  grain  and  comparative  freedom  from  hidden  defects,  was  ex 
tensively  logged  during  the  recent  war  by  the  government  through  "spruce 
regiments."  It  reaches  its  best  development  in  Oregon  and  Washington,  but 
grows  to  some  extent  along  the  coast  of  northern  California. 

Sitka  spruce  makes  a  striking  ornamental  tree  with  its  dense  rich  blue  or 
sage  foliage.  From  a  distance  some  branches  appear  greenish,  others  silvery, 
the  variation  in  color  forming  beautiful  contrasts.  It  attains  a  height  of  100 
to  1 50  feet  under  cultivation,  although  a  height  of  200  feet  is  not  uncommon 
in  its  native  habitat. 

YEWS 

Yew  (Taxus)  reflects  many  aspects  of  early  religious  and  social  life. 
Virgil  knew  its  habits  when  he  wrote  "The  vine  loves  the  hills,  the  yew  tree, 
the  north  wind  and  the  cold." 

The  pagan  people  of  antiquity  in  south  Europe  held  the  cypress  in  rever 
ence,  and  the  yew  was  so  regarded  by  the  northern  tribes.  It  was  their  cus 
tom  to  bury  their  dead  around  yew  trees,  and  place  yew  branches  beneath  the 
body  in  the  grave,  since  the  long  life  of  the  tree  was  regarded  by  them  as  a 
symbol  of  immortality.  Yew  trees  are  still  very  common  in  the  churchyards 
of  England.  They  have  been  described  as  sable,  sombre,  and  gloomy  in 
many  a  book  of  prose  and  poetry. 

"Like  the  black  and  melancholy  yew  tree, 
Dost  think  to  root  thyself  in  dead  men's  graves, 
And  yet  to  prosper?" 

T.  Webster. 

(41  ) 


Another  reason  for  its  presence  in  churchyards  may  be  clue  to  the  fact 
that  its  wood  was  used  for  crossbows,  the  chief  weapon  in  the  early  wars. 
The  Greek  word  meaning  bow  was  evolved  from  another  Greek  word  meaning 
yew,  because  they  made  bows  and  arrows  of  it. 

The  battles  of  Crecy  and  Poictiers  were  won  with  yew  bows,  and  Ed  ward 
IV  enacted  that  every  Englishman  should  have  a  bow  of  his  own  height. 
Later  the  supply  of  yew  became  scarce  because  of  the  demands  made  on  it  for 
bows,  and  all  the  bowyers  were  ordered  to  make  four  bows  of  witch-hazel, 
ash,  or  elm  to  every  one  of  yew,  in  order  that  the  supply  of  this  valued  wood 
might  be  preserved.  This  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  earliest  forest  regulations  in 
England. 

The  genus  Taxus  includes  six  species  of  small  trees  and  shrubs  which  occur 
over  a  wide  range  in  the  northern  hemisphere.  Their  rich,  dark,  glossy  foliage 
gives  them  a  sombre  hue  which  is  a  decided  contrast  to  other  trees.  In  many 
a  landscape  the  yew  strikes  a  deep,  solemn  note  which  makes  the  other  trees 
look  all  the  brighter  for  its  presence.  The  reel  berries  which  are  borne  by 
the  yew  instead  of  cones  add  to  its  beauty.  The  berries  are  on  the  under  side 
of  the  leaf  sprays  where  they  make  an  attractive  setting.  The  yew  is  slow 
of  growth,  but  grows  for  many  years,  and  will  live  for  centuries.  There  are 
three  species  of  American  yew,  two  of  which  are  found  in  the  Eastern  States 
and  one  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  western  species  is  the  largest,  reaching  a 
height  of  twenty  to  thirty  feet,  and  a  diameter  of  from  six  to  twelve  inches. 

THE  ENGLISH  YEW 

The  English  yew  (Taxus  baccata)  gives  a  fine  scenic  effect  in  the  spring 
with  its  dark  foliage  standing  out  in  contrast  to  the  light  green  coloring  of  its 
surroundings. 

"Where  the  distinguished  yew  is  ever  seen, 
Unchanged  his  branch,  and  permanent  his  green." 

1  he  bushy  head  of  this  yew  can  be  trimmed  into  any  form  and  trees  are 
commonly  seen  that  have  been  converted  into  such  unnatural  shapes  such  as 
peacocks,  pyramids,  and  teapots.  No  matter  how  much  the  yew  is  clipped, 
there  are  always  buds  in  the  angles  between  the  narrow  leaves  and  the  stems 
that  will  give  rise  to  new  growth  and  fill  up  gaps. 

(42) 


Plate  28.      LEBANON     CEDAR.      Pasadena. 

,,r?eha°n1   hhC    Assyrian    was   a    "dar    in    Lebanon    with    fair    branches,    and    with    a    shadowing    shroud,    and    of    an    high 
stature,    and   his   top   was   among    the   thick   boughs." 


„  "1"  ,lhe.u°W!S   °f    Heave,n    m?de   their   nests   in    llis    houghs,    and    under    his    branches    did    nil    the    beasts    of    the    field 
ring    forth    their    young,    and    under    his    shadow    dwelt    all    great   nations."— Exekiel    31:    3,    6. 


The  trunks  of  old  trees  are  often  greatly  enlarged  by  the  coalescing  of 
shoots  which  develop  about  the  base  giving  them  a  cathedral-like  effect.  In 
Darley  Dole  Churchyard  in  England  there  is  a  yew  formed  in  this  manner. 
A  peculiarity  of  this  coalescing  of  the  main  and  minor  trunks  is  that  the 
main  trunk  may  eventually  die,  but  the  hollow  tree  will  still  be  nourished  by 
this  outer,  living  shell  of  younger  shoots. 

THE  IRISH  YEW 

The  Irish  yew  (Taxus  baccata  fastigiata)  was  produced  from  a  freak  of 
the  English  yew,  and  was  first  found  growing  wild  more  than  one  hundred 
years  ago  in  the  mountains  of  County  Fermanagh  in  Ireland.  Cuttings 
from  this  tree  gave  us  all- the  Irish  yews  of  today.  They  have  an  upright  habit 
of  growth,  resembling  a  bundle  of  closely  packed  branches.  The  foliage  is  of 
the  darkest  hue,  and  the  whole  tree  appears  like  a  deep  green  column.  Irish 
yews  are  well  adapted  for  formal  effects  and  avenue  planting.  They  form 
one  of  the  most  striking  approaches  to  the  State  Capitol  at  Sacramento. 

THE  WESTERN  YEW 

The  western  yew  (Taxus  brevifolia)  is  an  American  species  which  is 
widely  distributed  along  the  coast  of  California  and  in  the  mountains  as  far 
south  as  the  southern  Sierras.  It  seldom  exceeds  forty  feet  in  height  and  one 
to  one  and  one-half  feet  in  diameter,  its  best  development  being  in  moist, 
cool  canyons.  The  wood  is  very  hard,  durable  and  close-grained,  and  was 
formerly  used  by  the  Indians  for  paddles,  spear  handles  and  bows.  This 
yew,  which  resembles  the  English  yew,  is  occasionally  cultivated  in  gardens. 


(43) 


BROAD-LEAF  TREES 

Broad-leaf  trees  are  best  adapted  for  street  and  highway  planting  due 
to  the  shade  afforded  by  their  broad  crowns  during  the  heat  of  summer.  As 
a  rule  deciduous  broad-leafs  are  more  desirable  than  those  which  keep  their 
leaves  the  year  round  since  they  do  not  prevent  the  drying  of  roads  and 
streets  after  the  winter  storms. 

There  are  comparatively  few  broad-leafs  in  the  number  considered  that 
are  suitable  for  street  and  highway  planting.  The  foliage  is  a  minor  con 
sideration  in  comparison  with  other  factors  such  as  the  adaptability  of  the 
tree  to  local  climatic  and  soil  conditions,  and  its  response  to  care.  For  this 
reason  much  consideration  must  be  given  to  selecting  suitable  species  for  road 
side  and  street  planting.  The  tree  chosen  should  have  a  desirable  habit  of 
growth,  capable  of  adapting  itself  to  soil  conditions  and  be  a  long-lived  variety 
that  improves  rather  than  deteriorates  with  age. 

The  ornamental  value  of  broad-leaf  trees  lies  in  their  variety  of  foliage 
and  form.  The  changeableness  of  color  in  the  foliage  of  the  deciduous  broad- 
leafs,  the  variety  of  branch  systems  in  their  naked  winter  condition  and  the 
awakening  of  Nature  in  the  early  spring  are  sources  of  perpetual  interest. 
The  evergreen  broad-leafs,  which  have  the  great  attraction  of  remaining  green 
throughout  the  year,  have  their  place  in  the  consideration  of  any  landscaping 
plan.  Many  of  the  broad-leafs  have  flowers  which  add  to  their  ornamental 
value. 

There  is  a  large  variety  of  broad-leaf  ornamental  trees,  both  native  and 
exotic,  found  in  California.  Some  flourish  in  temperate  climates,  and  some 
require  subtropical  conditions.  Some  stand  drought  and  alkali,  others  require 
good  soil  and  moisture  conditions.  A  good  guide  for  the  selection  of  trees  for 
planting  is  the  class  of  material  found  growing  in  nurseries  under  local  condi 
tions.  Trees  that  might  flourish  in  the  coast  region  may  prove  entirely  un- 
suited  to  the  hot  interior  valleys.  It  is  very  important  to  study  local  condi 
tions  before  selecting  any  tree,  whether  it  be  broad-leaf  or  conifer,  for  planting. 

(44) 


2     5 


ACACIAS  AND  FALSE  ACACIAS 

The  acacias  and  false  acacias  belong  to  the  Pulse  family,  which  is  char 
acterized  by  its  pod-like  fruit  and  compound  leaves  composed  of  small  leaflets 
which  form  a  graceful  foliage  Most  species  have  spines,  and  some  have 
striking  flowers  which  give  them  additional  ornamental  value. 

All  members  of  the  Pulse  family,  which  contains  over  seven  thousand 
species  of  plants  throughout  the  world,  have  the  power  of  transforming  the 
nitrogen  of  the  air  into  a  fertilizer  that  enriches  the  soil  in  which  they  grow. 
The  plants  range  in  size  from  peas,  beans  and  alfalfa  to  large  trees.  All  of 
them  are  called  legumes  because  of  their  pods  which  are  of  the  order  of  those 
borne  by  beans  and  peas. 

The  trees  in  this  family  embrace  four  to  five  hundred  species  which  are 
mostly  small  or  medium-sized.  They  are  widely  distributed  in  all  temperate 
and  tropical  regions.  Some  of  the  genera  have  little  commercial  or  orna 
mental  value.  Others  such  as  the  Acacia,  Robinia,  Gleditschia  and  Cercis  are 
widely  planted  because  of  their  attractive  foliage  and  flowers,  and  their  ability 
to  flourish  in  poor  soils  and  under  arid  conditions. 

ACACIAS 

The  generic  term  Acacia  is  derived  from  a  word  meaning  a  point  or  thorn, 
and  relates  to  the  branches,  which  are  usually  armed.  It  is  a  very  large 
genus  which  embraces  more  than  four  hundred  species  dispersed  throughout 
the  tropical  parts  of  the  earth  and  in  parts  of  the  temperate  zone.  Ten  or 
twelve  species  are  native  to  North  America  of  which  four  are  arborescent. 
The  Australian  species  are  the  largest  and  most  valuable  for  timber.  Other 
species  yield  valuable  by-products  such  as  flowers  for  perfumery,  bark  for 
tanning  purposes,  wood  for  medicines  and  dyes,  and  gum  arabic. 

The  acacias  have  great  historical  and  symbolic  significance  inasmuch  as 
the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  and  the  Ark  of  the  Tabernacle  were  made  from 
one  species,  the  Shittim  wood  of  the  Bible.  On  account  of  its  "incorruptible" 
wood  this  species  was  also  used  by  the  Egyptians  to  make  coffins  for  the  burial 
of  their  kings.  The  Buddhists  and  the  Hindus  regard  the  wood  of  the  acacia 
as  sacred  and  burn  it  on  their  altars  Chinese  doctors  believe  that  the  acacia 
is  identified  with  the  eye  and  prescribe  its  use  to  clear  the  eyesight. 


(45) 


Many  species  of  acacia  are  cultivated  for  their  graceful  foliage  and  hand 
some  fragrant  flowers.  Over  one  hundred  species  have  been  introduced  into 
California,  nearly  all  of  them  being  hardy  even  when  grown  in  poor  soil.  They 
are  rapid  growers,  cases  being  known  where  trees  have  grown  to  a  height 
of  twenty-five  feet  in  six  years.  At  thirty  years  most  of  the  trees  reach  ma 
turity  and  thereafter  begin  to  deteriorate.  This  gives  them  a  ragged  ap 
pearance  which  is  further  intensified  by  the  breaking  of  the  brittle  wood  of 
the  limbs  by  the  wind. 

Blackwood  Acacia 

The  blackwood  acacia  (Acacia  melanoxylon)  is  one  of  the  most  common 
of  the  acacias  particularly  in  the  southern  part  of  California.  It  is  an  erect, 
pyramidal  grower  and  forms  a  well-shaped  head.  The  leaves  are  large  and 
oblong  and  tend  to  give  the  tree  a  funereal  aspect  which  is  objectionable  when 
the  trees  are  planted  too  close  together.  When  young  the  tree  has  both 
blade  and  feather  leaves.  The  blossoms,  which  are  a  very  light  yellow,  appear 
in  heads. 

This  tree  is  well  adapted  for  street  and  highway  planting  on  account  of 
its  rapid  growth  and  symmetrical  form.  It  needs  little  attention  and  will 
stand  considerable  abuse.  It  will  stand  more  water  than  the  other  acacias 
and  will  do  well  in  parkings  where  there  is  grass.  The  tree  needs  ample  room 
for  development  and  when  planted  should  be  headed  high  to  keep  it  from  be 
coming  too  dense. 

Green  Wattle 

Green  wattle  (Acacia  decurrens}  has  pinnately  compound  foliage,  and  a 
wealth  of  pale  yellow  blossoms  early  in  the  spring.  It  is  a  good  park  and 
avenue  tree,  but  must  be  given  attention  else  its  habit  of  growth  will  be  bad. 
Care  should  be  taken  to  select  erect  specimens  and  prune  them  during  the 
first  few  years  following  planting.  A  disadvantage  of  the  tree  is  that  it  casts 
little  shade  at  maturity  due  to  its  open  head. 

Bailey's  Acacia 

Baileys  acacia  (Acacia  baileyana)  is  a  small  tree  rarely  exceeding  thirty 
feet  in  height  which  is  chiefly  planted  for  ornamental  purposes.  The  silvery 
fern-like  foliage,  blending  with  its  beautiful  golden  flowers,  makes  it  the  most 

(46) 


Plate  31.      CAPE    CHESTNUT.      Los    Angeles. 

A   rare   tree,    from   the   Cape   of   Good   Hope,    which   has   large,   beautiful   blossoms.      The   tree  shown   in   the   illustration 
was  planted  about    1893  by  the  daughter  of  General   Fremont. 


attractive  of  the  acacias.  The  growth  is  rapid,  but  unfortunately  the  tree  is 
short-lived  and  begins  to  decline  when  many  other  trees  are  reaching  the  full 
glory  of  their  maturity. 

ALBIZZIAS 

The  albizzias  were  named  after  Albizzi,  an  Italian  naturalist.  They  are 
closely  allied  to  the  acacias  and  are  grown  chiefly  for  their  handsome  foliage 
and  attractive  flowers.  There  are  about  twenty-five  species  in  the  tropical 
and  subtropical  regions  of  Asia,  Africa,  and  Australia. 

One  of  the  most  attractive  species  is  the  Constantinople  acacia  (Albizzia 
julibrissin).  It  has  a  low  and  spreading  growth  with  very  finely  divided 
feathery  leaves.  The  flowers,  which  are  borne  profusely  in  the  summer, 
occur  in  delicate  pink  heads  which  are  crowded  on  the  ends  of  the  branches. 
This  tree  reaches  a  height  of  about  forty  feet  and  is  hardy  especially  in  the 
Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  valleys  on  good,  well-drained  soil. 

This  is  one  of  the  favorite  trees  of  John  McLaren,  Superintendent  of 
Golden  Gate  Park,  San  Francisco,  who  commends  it  as  follows : 

"The  full  effect  of  the  beauty  of  this  most  interesting  tree  is  had 
when  it  is  planted  on  a  rising  ground,  against  a  background  of  pine  or 
other  dark  foliage,  in  the  full  sunlight  in  which  it  seems  to  delight." 

BLACK  LOCUST 

The  black  locust  (Robinia  fiseudacacia)  is  a  native  tree  of  the  eastern 
part  of  the  United  States  which  is  known  in  Europe  as  the  false  acacia  because 
of  its  resemblance  to  the  true  acacia.  The  generic  name  is  in  honor  of  the  Robin 
brothers,  who  were  arborists  for  one  of  the  early  French  kings.  It  was  intro 
duced  into  France  by  Jean  Robin  in  about  1600  and  became  a  favorite  be 
cause  of  its  beautiful  flowers  and  foliage.  In  1664,  Evelyn,  an  Englishman, 
in  his  Sylva,  recommends  black  locust  as  "deserving  a  place  among  our  avenue 
trees,  adorning  our  walks  with  its  exotic  leaves  and  sweet  flowers ;  very  hardy 
against  the  pinching  winter.  It  thrives  well  in  His  Majesty's  new  plantation 
in  St.  James'  Park." 

In  the  eighteenth  century  the  value  of  the  black  locust  for  timber  and 
as  a  soil  improver  due  to  the  nitrogenous  nodules  on  its  roots  became  recog 
nized.  It  was  planted  on  an  enormous  scale  in  England  and  the  prophesy  was 
made  that  it  was  destined  to  speedily  replace  most  of  the  hardwood  trees  in 

(47) 


cultivation,  and  would  become  more  common  in  time  than  the  oak.  About 
this  time,  the  French  also  began  to  plant  the  black  locust  on  an  extensive 
scale,  and  it  was  decreed  that  May  sixth  of  each  year  should  be  consecrated 
to  this  tree. 

In  its  native  country  the  black  locust  reaches  a  height  of  eighty  to  ninety 
feet  and  a  diameter  of  three  to  four  feet.  When  grown  in  the  open  it  branches 
low,  and  the  top  is  open,  rounded  and  irregular.  The  leaves  are  eight  to 
fourteen  inches  long  and  consist  of  small  oval  leaflets  arranged  in  pairs  on  the 
sides  of  the  leaf  stem  with  a  single  leaflet  on  the  top.  The  tree  is  most  beauti 
ful  when  in  flower  when  the  pendent  white  clusters  of  pea-shaped  blossoms 
are  set  off  by  the  dark  green  foliage.  The  flowers  were  symbolic  to  the  Indian, 
who  presented  them  to  the  lady  of  his  choice  as  a  declaration  of  his  love. 

The  fruits  of  the  black  locust  are  brown  pods  which  may  hang  on  the 
tree  through  the  winter.  The  tree  is  least  attractive  at  that  season  since  the 
absence  of  the  leaves  reveals  the  open  branches  and  the  rough,  ridgy  bark  of 
the  trunk. 

The  ability  to  grow  in  a  wide  variety  of  soils  and  under  arid  conditions 
is  a  strong  point  in  favor  of  the  black  locust.  Its  habit  of  suckering  is  its  chief 
objection,  although  this  propensity  varies  greatly.  In  some  places  it  suckers 
freely  while  in  others  practically  no  suckering  takes  place.  The  tree  can  be 
easily  propagated  by  cuttings  and  grows  rapidly,  making  a  dense  hard  wood, 
which  is  valuable  for  posts.  It  is  the  best  wood  known  for  tree-nails  and 
was  in  great  demand  during  the  late  war  for  that  use  in  the  construction  of 
wooden  ships. 

Black  locust  did  not  supersede  all  other  trees  in  England  as  was  pre 
dicted,  but  many  fine  specimens  are  found  there,  some  of  them  three  or  four 
feet  in  diameter.  It  is  a  common  tree  in  California  particularly  in  old  mining 
camps  where  it  was  planted  by  the  pioneers  who  brought  the  seed  with 
them  across  the  plains  or  around  Cape  Horn.  The  beauty  and  fragrance  of 
these  trees  in  the  spring  now  forms  the  chief  attractiveness  of  many  of  these 
old  camps,  some  of  which  have  become  practically  deserted. 

HONEY  LOCUST 

Honey  locust  (Gleditschia  triacanthos),  which  grows  naturally  in  the 
Appalachian  region  and  as  far  west  as  Kansas  and  Texas,  is  planted  for  orna- 

(48) 


mental  and  street  purposes  because  of  its  handsome,  finely  divided  foliage 
which  resembles  that  of  acacia,  its  large  conspicuous  pods  and  branched 
spines.  McLaren  states  that  it  should  make  a  good  street  tree  on  this  ac 
count,  since  the  spine-covered  branches  would  cause  boys  to  fight  shy  of 
climbing  the  trunk.  The  spines  are  specially  developed  branches.  Most  of 
them  branch  near  the  base  to  form  a  cross  which  has  caused  the  tree  to  be  called 
the  three-thorned  acacia  and  the  acacia  of  the  Passion. 

The  first  term  of  the  formidable  scientific  name  of  this  species  is  in  honor 
of  Gottleib  Gleditsch,  a  German  botanist;  the  second  from  the  long  three- 
pronged  spines  on  the  trunks  and  branches.  The  large  broad  brown  pods 
which  bear  the  seeds  of  the  tree  are  conspicuous  in  late  summer  and  remain 
on  the  tree  nearly  all  winter.  The  delicate,  open  foliage  which  gives  the  tree 
such  a  light  and  graceful  aspect,  comes  out  late  in  the  season.  It  is  bright 
green  in  the  spring,  turning  to  clear  yellow  shortly  before  leaf- fall.  Fragrant 
greenish  flowers  appear  in  racemes  early  in  summer. 

The  honey  locust  attains  a  height  of  fifty  to  seventy-five  feet,  and  has 
spreading  branches  which  form  a  low,  spreading,  rounded  top.  Because  of 
its  fine  foliage  the  tree  does  not  give  as  dense  a  shade  as  some  trees,  but  in 
other  ways  it  is  very  desirable  for  planting  on  streets  and  highways.  It  grows 
rapidly  on  any  ordinary  good  soil,  and  is  one  of  the  few  leguminous  trees  that 
will  stand  alkali.  It  requires  very  little  irrigation  and  is  free  from  insect  at 
tacks.  Some  objection  has  been  found  to  the  tree  on  account  of  its  sharp 
thorns  which  makes  pruning  difficult.  This  characteristic,  however,  has 
been  made  use  of  in  forming  impassable  hedges  by  planting  the  trees  thickly 
and  pruning  them  severely.  For  those  who  object  to  the  tree  because  of  its 
thorns  a  thornless  variety  has  been  developed  which  can  be  obtained  from  sev 
eral  nurseries  in  the  state. 

ASHES 

Around  no  other  tree  has  there  gathered  more  legend  and  superstition 
than  around  the  ash.  To  the  old  Northmen  it  was  the  tree  of  trees,  the  mystic 
Yggdrasil  beneath  whose  shade  the  gods  sat  daily  in  council.  According  to 
the  "Edda,"  their  sacred  books,  an  eagle  rests  on  the  summit  of  this  mystic 
tree  to  observe  all  that  passes  in  the  world,  while  a  squirrel  constantly  ascends 
and  descends  to  report  those  things  that  the  eagle  may  not  have  seen.  Ser- 

4—11898  (  49  ) 


pents  twine  around  the  trunk,  and  frcm  its  rcots  flow  two  streams,  that  of  the 
knowledge  of  things  past  and  that  of  the  knowledge  of  things  to  come. 

Scandinavian  mythology  relates  that  Odin  made  the  first  man  from  a 
piece  of  ash  which  he  found  on  the  seashore,  and  so  the  Vikings  were  called 
the  Ashmen.  They  used  the  wood  of  the  ash  for  spear-shafts  and  axe-handles, 
and  their  ships  were  fashioned  out  of  it  since  they  believed  it  had  special  power 
to  withstand  evil  both  in  the  day  of  battle  and  of  storm. 

The  Greeks  also  had  a  tradition  of  the  origin  of  man  from  an  ash,  and  its 
wood  was  deemed  worthy  to  form  the  spear-handles  of  Achilles  and  other  of 
their  heroes. 

In  the  middle  ages  the  ash  was  supposed  to  be  a  safeguard  against  witches 
especially  if  it  was  made  a  "Shrew  Ash"  by  burying  a  live  shrew-mouse  in  a 
hole  in  its  trunk.  It  was  believed  that  leaves  and  twigs  taken  from  such  a 
tree  were  a  sovereign  remedy  for  cattle  suffering  from  cramp,  which  was 
supposed  to  be  due  to  a  shrew-mouse  having  run  over  the  suffering  part. 
Ash  leaves  were  reported  to  cure  warts,  provided  one  said  to  the  tree,  "Ashen 
tree,  Ashen  tree,  pray  buy  these  warts  of  me,"  as  one  placed  the  leaves  on 
the  warts.  Serpents  were  supposed  to  have  an  aversion  to  the  ash,  and  it 
was  reported  that  they  would  "sooner  run  into  the  fire  than  into  the  boughs, 
and  that  they  dare  not  so  much  as  touch  the  morning  and  evening  shadows  of 
the  tree." 

The  ash  has  been  called  the  Venus  of  the  forest  because  of  the  airiness 
in  its  foliage  due  to  the  subdividing  of  its  leaves.  There  are  thirty  to  forty 
species  in  the  genus  Fraxinus  to  which  it  belongs,  growing  mostly  in  the  tem 
perate  regions  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  In  North  America,  sixteen  species 
are  recognized,  the  white  ash  being  the  most  beautiful  and  useful  of  the 
American  species.  The  English  ash  is  attractive  with  its  fine  foliage  and  black 
buds  to  which  Tennyson  compared  the  jet  blackness  of  the  hair  of  the  gar 
dener's  daughter  as  being  "more  black  than  ash  buds  in  the  front  of  March." 

The  smooth  ashen-gray  bark  of  the  bole  is  supposed  to  be  the  origin  of 
the  name  ash.  The  flowers  come  first,  and  then  the  leaf-buds  burst,  displaying 
tiny  leaflets  laid  together  like  the  pleats  of  a  fan.  As  the  leaves  open  each 
leaf  is  composed  of  a  terminal  leaflet  and  a  number  of  lateral  leaflets  arranged 
in  pairs  along  the  midrib.  The  fruit  ripens  in  the  fall  and  hangs  on  the  trees 
in  clusters  through  the  winter.  The  fruit  is  often  called  ash  keys,  the  botanical 

(50) 


Plate  33.      CRAPE    MYRTLE.      Sacramento. 
A    small   tree  with   very  smooth   bark   which   blooms   freely  through   most  of  the   summer. 


Plate   34.      CRAPE     MVRTLE     BLOSSOMS.      Sacramento. 
The   soft.   frinRe«I   flowers   of   the    crape   myrtle   give   it   an   attractive    effect    on    many    lawns    in    cities   of    central    California. 


name  being  the  samara.     Each  key  is  long  and  flat  with  a  seed  shaped  as  a 
long  oval  at  the  stem  end  and  continuing  into  a  flat  leathery  wing. 

WHITE  ASH 

The  white  ash  (Fraxinus  americana)  is  native  from  Newfoundland  and 
Nova  Scotia  west  to  Minnesota  and  south  to  Florida  and  Texas.  It  reaches 
its  best  development  on  rich  moist  soil  where  occasional  specimens  120  feet 
high  and  from  five  to  six  feet  in  diameter  are  found.  It  grows  straight  and 
symmetrical,  and  forms  a  broad,  rounded  head  which  bears  dense,  graceful 
masses  of  leaves.  In  the  fall  the  leaves  change  color,  and  as  they  drop  from 
the  tree  expose  a  characteristic  open  head  with  erect  rigid  twigs  with  an 
opposite  arrangement. 

It  is  hard  to  understand  why  white  ash  has  not  been  planted  more  ex 
tensively  in  California  since  it  has  many  characteristics  that  recommend  it 
for  a  shade  tree.  It  is  a  rapid  grower,  is  hardy,  and  has  few  insect  enemies. 
For  ornamental  purposes,  its  open  habit  of  branching  affords  a  desirable  con 
trast  to  bring  out  the  beauties  of  other  trees  with  more  delicate  branch  systems, 
and  its  light  green  leaves  make  an  effective  color  effect  against  darker  foliage. 
It  can  be  easily  transplanted  on  account  of  its  finely  divided  root  system, 
and  should  do  well  under  good  soil  and  moisture  conditions. 

ARIZONA  ASH 

Arizona  ash  (Fraxinus  vetutina)  is  a  little  known  tree  which  is  destined 
to  be  widely  planted  in  California  along  roads  and  highways  because  of  its 
ability  to  do  well  under  adverse  conditions.  The  tree  grows  naturally  from 
western  Texas  to  the  Owens  Lake  region  in  southern  California,  where  it 
inhabits  the  banks  of  the  streams  or  borders  of  springs.  In  its  native  state 
it  is  a  small  tree,  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet  high,  but  under  cultivation  it 
reaches  a  height  of  seventy-five  feet. 

It  has  large,  compound,  willow-like  leaves,  gracefully  drooping  branches, 
and  large  panicles  of  wing-like  fruit  in  the  fall.  It  grows  fast,  and  forms  a 
symmetrical,  round  top,  which  affords  sufficient  shade,  although  some  sun 
light  always  finds  a  way  through  its  irregular,  wavy  foliage. 

Arizona  ash  has  the  great  merit  of  growing  well  in  alkaline  soil  where 
hardly  any  other  tree  will  do,  and  is  particularly  well  adapted  to  the  arid 

(51) 


regions  of  southern  California.  That  it  will  clo  equally  well  in  the  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin  valleys  is  evidenced  by  a  sturdy  row  on  the  highway  near 
Bakersfield.  Kern  County  has  recently  planted  a  large  number  of  Arizona 
ash  trees  on  the  barren  seventeen-mile  stretch  of  state  highway  running 
from  Bakersfield  to  the  foot  of  the  pass  over  the  mountains  to  Los  Angeles, 
and  under  the  care  of  the  California  Highway  Commission  they  are  doing 
well,  though  struggling  against  extremely  adverse  conditions. 

BIRCHES 

There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  as  to  which  tree  is  king,  but  there  is 
no  doubt  as  to  the  right  of  the  birch,  the  apotheosis  of  daintiness  and  charm, 
to  the  title  of  Lady  of  the  Woods  bestowed  on  her  by  Coleridge. 

The  genus  Betula,  to  which  the  birches  belong,  embraces  some  thirty-five 
species  of  small  trees  all  of  which,  except  one  South  American  species,  are 
inhabitants  of  cool,  northern  regions.  Thirteen  species  are  found  in  North 
America  of  which  ten  are  trees.  Two  groups  are  distinguishable,  the  white  or 
paper  birches,  and  the  yellow  or  black  birches.  The  white  birches  with  their 
pure  white  bark,  graceful  foliage  and  slender  branches  are  the  ones  chiefly 
used  for  ornamental  purposes. 

F'rom  the  earliest  of  times  birch  bark  has  served  as  a  material  on  which 
to  write,  and  the  books  of  Numa  Pompilius  of  Rome,  which  were  compiled 
in  700  B.  C.,  are  said  to  have  been  written  on  it.  The  American  Indians  con 
sidered  a  birch  bark  canoe,  ribbed  with  ceda#,  bound  with  larch  roots  and 
with  its  seams  made  water  safe  with  pine  balsam,  an  ideal  boat.  They  also 
used  the  bark  as  a  covering  for  their  lodges. 

In  times  past  the  giving  of  a  birch  wreath  was  a  token  of  love,  and  in 
Wales  today  the  Maypole  is  always  made  of  this  tree.  It  has  always  been 
associated  with  the  spirits  of  the  dead  and  with  those  that  mourn,  an  associa 
tion  that  a  poet  has  thus  expressed : 

"Weeps  the  birch  of  silver  bark  with  long,  dishevell'd  hair." 

It  is  stated  that  the  fasces  carried  by  the  lictors  before  the  magistrates 
of  ancient  Rome  were  made  of  birch  rods.  The  Russian  believes  the  birch 
tree  to  be  a  symbol  of  good  health  and  is  flogged  with  birch  switches  until  he 
perspires  when  taking  a  sweat  bath.  Many  youths  in  the  region  where  the 

(52) 


Plate  35.     GUADALUPE    CYPRESS.     Sacramento. 

A    native    of    the    Guadalupe    Island,    which    has    foliage    of    striking    blue    color    which    often    causes    it    to    be    called 
'Blue    Cypress." 


Plate   36.      ITALIAN    CYPRESS.      Visalia. 

"There    stands    a    group    of    cypresses — 
Whose  branches  the  air   plays  among,   but   not 
Disturbs,  fearing  to  spoil  their  solemn  grace." 

— Shelley. 


birch  is  abundant  have  painful  recollections  concerning  this  use  of  its  branches. 
In  this  connection  the  Dean  of  Wells  in  1568  wrote  the  following: 

"I  have  not  red  of  any  vertue  it  hath  in  physick ;  howbeit,  it  serveth 
for  many  good  uses,  and  for  none  better  than  for  betynge  of  stubborn 
boys  that  either  lye  or  will  not  learn." 

WHITE  BIRCH 

The  European  white  birch  (Betula  alba)  is  closely  related  to  the  paper 
birch  which  is  a  native  of  northeastern  United  States.  It  is  the  most  hand 
some  of  the  white  birches  and  is  thought  by  Hamerton  to  be  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  trees. 

"The  birch  is  always  beautiful  in  herself,"  he  says,  "and  not  the  least 
beautiful  in  winter,  when  all  her  light  woody  structure  is  distinctly  visible, 
from  the  silvery  trunk  to  the  dark  purple  sprays.  In  spring  her  light  green 
foliage  strikes  the  eye  as  crude,  but  in  autumn  the  thinly  scattered  little 
leaves  of  pale  gold  tell  with  the  greatest  brilliance  amongst  the  darker  shades 
of  the  forest,  and  the  whiteness  of  the  stems  is  brilliant  against  the  russets  and 
purples  and  dark  greys." 

The  white  birch  is  a  short  lived. tree  which  reaches  a  height  of  about 
fifty  feet  with  a  trunk  seldom  over  a  foot  in  diameter.  The  trunk  is  a  definite 
column  to  the  tip  of  the  tree  and  gives  off  branches  which  are  considerably 
slighter  and  darker.  From  these  branches  droop  still  slighter  twigs  which 
give  the  tree  its  daintiness  and  charm.  The  silvery  bark  is  emphasized  by 
many  transverse  markings  known  as  "lenticels"  which  are  spaces  where  air 
is  admitted  to  the  living  tissues  beneath  the  bark. 

There  are  a  number  of  varieties  of  the  birch,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
being  the  weeping  cut-leaved  birch  (Betula  alba  laciniata  pendula).  This  is 
common  in  parks  and  estates  and  is  used  to  some  extent  on  narrow  roads  or 
streets  where  a  marked  contrast  in  growth  is  desired.  Single  specimens  on 
lawns  are  very  attractive  since  the  fine  slender  shoots,  deeply  cut  leaves,  and 
snowy  white  trunk  are  revealed  in  all  their  beauty.- 

The  birches  do  best  in  the  coast  region  where  there  are  favorable  soil  and 
atmospheric  conditions.  Their  natural  habitat  is  in  cool  regions  and  they 
will  not  thrive  where  there  is  too  much  heat.  The  growth  is  slow,  but  under 
good  care  the  birch  will  form  a  good  head  and  make  a  splendid  small  tree  for 

(53) 


localities  where  a  light  shade  is  desired.     Its  beauty  of  outline  is  well  shown 
in  MacWherter's  picture  of  a  group  of  birches  entitled  "The  Three  Graces." 

BLADDER-NUT  TREE 

The  bladder-nut  tree  (Koelreuteria  paniculata)  which  was  named  after 
J.  G.  Koelreuter,  professor  of  natural  history  at  Karlsruhe,  is  native  to  China 
and  Japan.  It  is  a  medium  sized  tree  with  a  picturesque  branch  habit  and  a 
heavy  foliage  of  finely  cut,  dark-green,  compound  leaves.  Small  yellow  flowers 
are  borne  in  large  terminal  panicles  followed  by  conspicuous  bladder-like  pods. 
It  is  sometimes  called  the  "varnish  tree"  because  of  its  glossy  foliage. 

This  tree  flourishes  in  the  smoke-infested  towns  of  England  such  as  in 
the  outskirt  districts  of  Liverpoool  and  Manchester,  and  has  clone  well  under 
adverse  conditions  of  soil  and  moisture  in  California.  It  is  said  to  endure  alkali 
better  than  most  trees  which  entitles  it  to  consideration  in  some  parts  of  the 
state. 

BOTTLE-BRUSHES 

The  bottle-brushes  are  mostly  Australian  trees  and  shrubs  which  are 
widely  planted  in  California  because  of  their  beauty  and  hardiness  in  with 
standing  drought  and  abuse.  The  bottle-brushes  embrace  several  genera  but 
the  name  is  especially  applicable  to  the  genus  Callistemon,  a  word  derived 
from  two  Greek  words,  kallos  (beauty)  and  stemon  (stamen).  In  most  of 
the  species  the  stamens  which  protrude  from  the  blossoms  are  of  a  beautiful 
scarlet  or  crimson  color.  The  flower  clusters  resemble  bottle-brushes  in  shape 
which  gives  the  common  name. 

Callistemon  lanceolatus  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  of  the  bottle-brushes. 
It  has  an  erect  growth  and  reaches  a  height  of  about  twelve  feet.  In  Australia 
it  is  thirty  feet  tall  and  eighteen  inches  in  diameter.  The  wood,  which  is 
heavy  and  hard,  is  used  there  for  mallets.  It  has  very  short  and  broad  leaves 
and  bright  red  flowers. 

The  genus  Melaleuca  has  not  as  showy  flower  clusters  as  Callistemon,  but 
the  various  species  are  more  symmetrical  in  outline.  All  species  are  hardy  in 
nearly  every  locality  in  California  except  in  mountainous  districts.  A  lux 
uriant  development  is  secured  in  some  parts  of  the  state  under  a  combination 
of  warm  summers  and  moist  soil. 

(54) 


Plate  37.      ITALIAN    CYPRESS.      Santa   Barbara. 
The    use    of    Italian    cypress    to    secure   pleasing    effects    i^  well   shown   on   this  estate   in    Santa    Barbara. 


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The  bottle-brushes  are  favorites  in  California  gardens.  They  are  easily 
pruned  and  are  especially  good  for  parks,  schoolgrounds  and  private  estates. 
They  grow  well  in  any  fair  garden  soil  and  require  very  little  attention  if  the 
ground  is  cultivated  once  a  year  and  kept  loose  on  the  surface. 

A  notable  feature  of  the  Melateucas  is  their  striking  shred-like  papery 
bark,  which  peels  off  in  wide  layers  and  leaves  the  trunk  clothed  in  a  lustrous 
corky  layer  of  rare  beauty. 

BRISBANE  BOX 

The  Brisbane  box  (Tristania  conferta),  named  in  honor  of  Tristan,  a 
French  botanist,  is  an  Australian  tree  that  is  widely  used  in  New  South  Wales 
on  city  boulevards.  It  is  a  handsome  evergreen  with  broad  shining  leaves, 
somewhat  resembling  the  broader  form  of  eucalyptus  leaves,  clustered  on  the 
ends  of  the  branches.  The  flowers  are  white  and  star-shaped  with  fringes  of 
stamens  which  give  them  a  very  unusual  appearance. 

This  tree  has  a  good  form  and  affords  an  abundance  of  shade.  Under 
favorable  conditions  it  reaches  a  height  of  100  feet.  It  stands  drought  re 
markably  well  and  is  hardy  in  central  California.  Its  chief  objectionable 
feature  is  the  dropping  of  its  leaves  throughout  the  year.  It  is  also  badly 
affected  with  scale  at  Berkeley. 

CALIFORNIA  LAUREL 

California  laurel  (  Umbeltularia  californica)  derives  its  generic  name  from 
the  Latin  umbetla,  a  sunshade.  It  is  one  of  the  most  characteristic  native 
trees  of  California,  and  is  common  along  water  courses  in  the  coast  ranges 
and  within  the  foothill  zone  on  the  west  slope  of  the  Sierras.  It  reaches  its 
best  development  on  flats  along  the  northern  coast  where  it  frequently  be 
comes  a  tree  eighty  to  100  feet  high  and  five  to  six  feet  in  diameter. 

Sargent  describes  it  as  "one  of  the  stateliest  and  most  beautiful  inhabitants 
of  the  North  American  forests,  and  no  evergreen  tree  of  temperate  regions 
surpasses  it  in  the  beauty  of  its  dark  dense  crown  of  lustrous  foliage  and  in 
the  massiveness  of  habit  which  makes  it  one  of  the  most  striking  features  of 
the  California  landscape  and  fit  it  to  stand  in  any  park  or  garden." 

The  California  laurel  has  many  names,  such  as  bay  tree  and  pepperwood. 
The  leaves  are  highly  aromatic  giving  an  odor  much  like  those  of  the  bay 

(55) 


laurel  of  the  ancients.  The  common  name  for  the  California  laurel  in  Oregon 
is  myrtle.  The  "black  myrtle"  of  the  millmen  is  produced  by  sinking  logs  in 
water  to  improve  the  color  of  the  wood  for  furniture  and  interior  finish. 

California  laurel  is  a  handsome  tree  in  cultivation,  but  should  be  planted 
under  advantageous  conditions,  since  it  tends  to  become  top-heavy  and  is 
liable  to  be  blown  down.  The  trees  are  apt  to  develop  several  leaders,  but  if 
kept  to  a  single  leader  it  forms  a  fine  pyramid  and  makes  a  splendid  tree. 
No  evergreen  tree  is  better  adapted  for  forming  groups  of  dense  foliage  if  given 
a  suitable  place.  In  the  hot  interior  valleys  it  is  apt  to  be  attacked  by  scale, 
and,  on  that  account,  should  be  given  a  shady  situation  and  plenty  of  water 
during  the  dry  season. 

CAMPHOR  TREE 

The  camphor  tree  (Cinnamonum  camphora)  is  a  native  of  China  and 
Japan  which  has  become  so  thoroughly  naturalized  in  California  as  to  be 
considered  a  genuine  "old  timer."  It  is  one  of  the  most  popular  ornamental 
trees  in  southern  California,  where  it  is  a  favorite  evergreen  for  street  planting, 
due  to  its  handsome,  dense  foliaged  crown. 

The  leaves  are  bright  green,  highly  polished,  and  throughout  the  summer 
give  the  tree  an  appearance  of  freshness.  The  new  foliage  is  very  attractive 
in  its  reddish-pink  splendor  at  the  tips  of  the  branches.  The  mature  form  is 
dome  shaped,  the  trees  rarely  exceeding  forty  feet  in  height.  Good  growth 
can  be  secured  by  giving  the  trees  care,  but  if  they  are  neglected  they  will 
become  stunted  and  irregular  in  shape. 

The  camphor  tree  is  not  confined  to  southern  California,  but  thrives  in 
many  sections  of  the  central  and  northern  part  of  the  state,  where  it  displays 
quite  a  degree  of  immunity  from  frost  at  low  elevations.  It  lends  itself  to 
wide  parkings  on  city  streets  and  makes  a  handsome  shade  and  ornamental 
tree  on  lawns.  Like  most  other  evergreen  trees,  there  is  some  dropping  of 
leaves  throughout  the  year,  but  not  enough  to  cause  an  excessive  litter. 

The  camphor  of  commerce  is  extracted  from  the  wood,  bark  and  leaves 
of  this  tree,  and  there  is  a  distinct  odor  of  camphor  to  the  leaves  which  is 
brought  out  when  they  are  crushed  in  the  hand. 

(56) 


Plate   39.      LAWSON    CYPRESS.      Del    Monte. 

"Here,   where   upon   the    velvet   lawn 
The   cedar   spreads  its   shade." 

— Procter. 


Plate  40.     JAPANESE    CEDAR.      Sacramento. 
The   national   tree   of   Japan,   which   has  an   antiquity   that   can  be  traced   to   a   very   remote  geological   period. 


romm 
recommend 


Plate   42.      ENGLISH    ELM.      Burlinoame. 

f"   C'eCt>   raP'1<1-Srowin«    'r«   which    is   remarkably    free    from    pests 
for   street   and  highway   planting. 


Its    loni;    life,    neatness    and    symmetry 


CAPE  CHESTNUT 

The  Cape  chestnut  (Calodendrum  cajpensis)  takes  its  generic  name  from 
a  Greek  word  meaning  beautiful  tree.  It  is  one  of  the  handsomest  deciduous 
trees  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  where  it  is  called  "wild  chestnut."  In  Africa 
this  tree  reaches  a  height  of  seventy  feet,  but  only  a  few  small  specimens  are 
found  under  cultivation  in  California,  all  of  them  being  confined  to  the  southern 
part  of  the  state. 

It  is  a  symmetrical  tree  with  attractive  foliage  and  large  panicles  of  white 
or  flesh-colored  blossoms  which  are  sometimes  seven  inches  across  and  six  inches 
deep.  The  seeds,  which  resemble  chestnuts,  are  black  and  shiny.  The  leaves, 
which  are  four  or  five  inches  long,  are  studded  with  oil  cysts  which  look  like 
translucent  spots  when  held  to  the  light. 

This  rare  and  beautiful  tree  is  an  ornament  to  any  private  ground,  and 
under  favorable  conditions  and  with  good  care  should  do  well  in  most  parts 
of  southern  California. 

CAROB 

The  carob  (Ceratonia  siliqua)  belongs  to  the  legume  family.  The  generic 
term  is  from  the  Greek  (keroma)  meaning  horn,  in  reference  to  the  form  of 
the  pod,  the  scientific  name  of  which  is  silique.  This  tree,  commonly  known 
as  St.  John's  bread,  because  of  its  edible  pods,  is  native  to  the  eastern  shores 
of  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  It  was  taken  by  the  Greeks  into  Greece  and  Italy, 
and  by  the  Spaniards  into  Mexico  and  South  America.  Its  first  appearance 
in  this  country  was  in  1854  from  Spain.  Seeds  were  first  planted  in  California 
in  1873  at  Los  Gatos,  and  at  the  present  time  the  tree  is  successfully  grown 
as  far  south  as  Imperial  County  and  as  far  north  as  Butte. 

The  carob  tree  reaches  a  height  of  forty  to  fifty  feet  and  has  evergreen 
foliage  made  up  of  glossy,  green,  compound  leaves,  making  it  a  tree  of  great 
beauty.  The  head  is  rounded  and  often  branches  in  such  a  way  that  the 
weight  of  the  branches  causes  them  to  split  and  ruin  the  form  of  the  tree. 
This  is  its  chief  objection  since  in  other  ways  the  carob  is  well  adapted  for 
street  and  ornamental  planting.  The  majority  of  carob  trees  are  dioecious, 
that  is,  have  staminate  or  male  flowers  on  one  tree  and  pistillate  or  female 
flowers  on  a  different  tree.  The  pistillate  flowers  develop  into  pods  four  to 
ten  inches  long,  which  are  thick  and  tough  and  filled  with  a  sweet  pulpy  sub 
stance  in  which  the  flat,  bony  seeds  are  embedded. 

(57) 


CASUARINAS 

The  generic  term  Casuarina  is  supposed  to  be  taken  from  Casuarius,  the 
genus  to  which  the  cassowary,  a  large  bird  from  the  East  Indies,  belongs. 
The  name  was. given  the  trees  in  this  genus  because  of  the  resemblance  of  their 
branches  to  the  feathers  of  the  cassowary.  The  trees  are  commonly  known  as 
beef  woods  or  she-oaks.  The  redness  of  the  wood  accounts  for  the  name  beef- 
woocl,  and  its  hardness  for  its  association  with  the  oaks. 

The  Casuarinas  embrace  about  twenty-five  species,  which  are  found 
naturally  in  Australia  and  the  East  Indies,  where  they  grow  under  adverse 
conditions  of  soil  and  moisture.  This  has  led  to  their  use  in  this  country  for 
planting  in  certain  localities,  especially  where  alkali  is  present.  It  has  been 
found  that  they  will  resist  alkali  and  drought  better  than  most  trees,  which 
is  the  main  justification  for  their  use. 

The  principal  species  planted  is  the  she-oak  (Casuarina  stricta).  It  has 
a  peculiar  form  suggestive  of  its  drought-resisting  qualities.  It  has  no  leaves, 
.  and  the  branches  are  jointed  like  those  of  the  equisetums.  This  gives  it  a  thin- 
topped  appearance,  which  on  mature  trees  is  suggestive  of  the  habit  of  the 
pines.  It  reaches  a  height  of  thirty-five  to  forty  feet  and  under  favorable 
conditions  makes  a  fairly  rapid  growth.  It  is  planted  on  some  streets  in 
southern  California  chiefly  because  of  the  oddity  of  its  appearance,  and  the 
little  care  that  it  requires. 

Casuarina  equisetifolia  has  tiny,  bur-like  multiple  fruits  which  cling  to 
the  branches  like  little  stars  and  shed  quantities  of  tiny  light  brown  winged 
seeds.  It  has  been  successfully  grown  in  plantations  in  the  Berkeley  hills. 

CATALINA  IRONWOOD 

The  Catalina  ironwood  (Lyonothamnus  floribundus  var  asplenifolius)  is 
native  only  to  Santa  Cruz,  Santa  Rosa,  Santa  Catalina  and  San  Clemente 
islands,  off  the  coast  of  southern  California,  and  was  first  brought  to  the 
mainland  at  Santa  Barbara  in  1894.  It  flourishes  there,  as  well  as  in  the 
botanic  gardens  at  the  University  of  California,  where  a  tree  fifteen  years 
old  is  forty-five  feet  high  and  ten  inches  in  diameter.  It  is  called  ironwood 
because  of  the  extreme  hardness  of  its  wood. 

This  rare  species  is  worthy  of  trial  as  a  street  tree  because  of  its  erect 
habit  of  growth,  moderate  spread  and  narrow  crown.  The  leaves  are  divided 

(58) 


Plate  43.      CAMPERDOWN    ELM.      Golden    Gate    Park. 
A   grafted   elm   on   which   the   limbs   grow   outward   and    downward    giving   it   a    weeping   appearance. 


Plate  44.      EUCALYPTS    AND    PALMS.      Fresno. 

c?C,ChlSv  °fr ,CUCalyPts   ,hav«    been    introduced    into     California    from     Australia.      Most    of    them     secrete    resinous 
trees    ™<f  L^™  V        f°T     "     ST     ""I"?'  -     ^     Kearney    boulevard    near     Fresno,    which    is    lined    with 

trees   and   palms,   is   one   of   the   most    beautiful    in    California. 


into  long,  narrow  leaflets,  which  are  cut  nearly  to  the  midrib  into  triangular 
lobes.  It  blooms  in  early  summer,  the  blossoms  being  white  and  borne  in 
large,  dense  clusters.  The  bark  is  reddish  in  color  and  is  shed  in  long  strips. 
There  have  been  no  failures  wherever  the  iron  wood  has  been  tried  in  the 
Coast  region.  It  has  not  done  well,  however,  in  the  interior  region.  As  an 
ornamental  tree  it  is  best  adapted  to  large  grounds  where  its  symmetrical 
outline  and  stately  habit  may  be  fully  brought  out. 

CATALPAS 

The  generic  term  Catalpa  is  from  the  language  of  the  Indians  of  Carolina, 
where  it  was  discovered  in  1726.  There  are  seven  species  of  catalpa  in  the 
world,  two  in  North  America  and  the  others  in  the  West  Indies  and  Eastern 
China. 

The  hardy  catalpa  (Catalpa  speciosa)  is  most  frequently  planted,  since  it 
is  the  most  symmetrical  of  any  of  the  species.  It  is  a  medium-sized  tree 
which  is  of  interest  because  of  its  large  heart-shaped  leaves,  clusters  of  striking, 
white  flowers  and  odd  fruit  pods  which  hang  on  the  tree  during  the  winter 
These  pods  are  commonly  known  as  Indian  beans. 

The  branches  are  long  and  heavy,  forming  an  irregular  round  topped 
tree.  The  successive  fall  of  the  flowers,  leaves,  and  fruit  make  the  catalpa 
uncleanly,  but  it  is  comparatively  free  from  insect  pests,  and  on  account  of 
its  showy  characteristics  is  often  planted  on  streets  and  lawns.  It  does  well 
in  the  Coast  region  but  is  not  a  first  choice  species  for  street  work  in  com 
parison  with  many  other  desirable  trees. 

CHERRIES  AND  PLUMS 

The  genus  Prunus,  the  ancient  Latin  name  for  plum,  besides  including 
such  orchard  fruits  as  peaches,  plums,  cherries,  apricots,  and  almonds,  em 
braces  many  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs.  The  most  ornamental  species  are 
those  from  China  and  Japan,  which  are  conspicuous  because  of  their  double 
blossoms  and  colored  leaves.  One  of  the  first  to  bloom  is  the  Japanese  plum 
(Prunus  pissardii),  which  was  introduced  into  France  by  Pissard,  gardener 
to  the  Shah  of  Persia.  A  portion  of  Hillegas  avenue,  Berkeley,  is  lined  with 
these  trees,  which  attract  much  attention  in  the  early  spring  by  their  showers 
of  white  blossoms  tinted  with  pink.  A  little  later,  reddish-purple  leaves 
appear,  followed  in  the  fall  by  handsome  light-red  fruit. 

(59) 


Catalina  cherry  (Prunus  integrifolia)  is  a  native  of  Santa  Catalina  and 
Santa  Cruz  islands,  off  the  coast  of  southern  California.  It  has  shining  ever 
green  leaves  and  produces  a  foliage  often  used  for  decorative  purposes,  as  well 
as  for  low  windbreaks.  The  blossoms  are  inconspicuous,  of  a  greenish-white 
color,  and  are  followed  by  small  fruits  of  a  small  purplish-red  color.  This  tree 
is  planted  on  a  street  in  Hollywood,  where  it  forms  a  very  dark  green  crown 
which  gives  a  dense  shade. 

All  members  of  this  genus  are  small  trees  which  are  well  adapted  for  narrow 
streets  or  parkings  where  large  trees  would  be  out  of  proportion  to  the  build 
ings.  They  also  are  effective  as  "accent  trees"  in  front  of  other  shrubbery  and 
trees.  They  are  short-lived  as  a  rule,  but  grow  freely  in  any  fairly  good  soil, 
and  require  little  irrigation  if  the  soil  is  kept  loose  and  free  from  weeds. 

CHESTNUTS 

The  chestnuts  are  confined  to  the  northern  hemisphere,  and  are  widely 
distributed  through  eastern  North  America,  southern  Europe,  northern 
Africa,  western  Asia,  and  central  and  northern  China  and  Japan.  Four  species 
are  distinguished  of  which  two  are  found  in  this  country.  The  finest  chestnut 
trees  in  the  world  are  in  the  southern  Appalachian  Mountains,  where  a  tree 
seventy-five  feet  in  height  and  with  a  circumference  of  over  thirty-three  feet 
has  been  found. 

The  "spreading  chestnut  tree"  under  which  the  village  blacksmith  worked 
is  known  to  every  school  child.  From  its  wood  an  armchair  was  made  which 
was  presented  to  the  poet  Longfellow  on  his  seventy-second  birthday,  Feb 
ruary  27,  1879. 

The  chestnut  has  many  distinctive  features.  Mature  trees  have  grayish- 
brown  bark  with  broad,  flat,  irregular  ridges  separated  by  deep  fissures.  The 
leaves  are  six  to  eight  inches  long  and  about  two  inches  wide  with  coarsely 
toothed  margins.  In  the  fall  they  assume  soft  shades  of  yellow  and  reel.  In 
summer,  after  most  other  trees  have  bloomed,  the  chestnut  blazes  into  a 
wealth  of  odorous,  cream-colored  blossoms,  arranged  on  long,  slender  spikes. 
The  nut-producing  flowers  are  fertilized  and  grow  into  prickly  burs,  the  sharp 
spines  of  wrhich  are  Nature's  protection  against  injury  to  the  nuts.  When 
the  burs  split  they  separate  into  four  parts,  revealing  two  to  four  shining 
nuts  resting  in  a  velvety  brown  bed. 

(60) 


Plate  45.      RED    GUM.      Pasadena. 

The   foliage   of   the   older   trees    of  this   eucalyptus   is   reddish-white,    which    gives    it    its    common    name.      It    does    not 
;row   as   large    as    blue    gum,    but    stands    more   cold    and    drought. 


Plate   46.      LEMON-SCENTED    GUM.      San    DieRo. 
A   fast   growing  eucalyptus  that  soon  becomes  tall  and   slender.      It  thrives  best  near  the  coast  in  southern  California. 


The  chestnut  blight  is  a  serious  enemy  of  the  chestnut  and  has  caused 
havoc  in  the  Eastern  States.  It  makes  the  planting  of  the  tree  in  the  West 
a  considerable  risk,  because  of  the  chances  of  its  attack  by  this  disease.  It 
made  its  appearance  in  this  country  in  1904,  being  brought  in  from  either 
China  or  Japan,  and  has  resulted  in  the  death  of  a  large  number  of  chestnut 
trees  in  the  East.  So  far  as  known,  it  has  not  attacked  the  few  chestnut  trees 
planted  in  California  to  any  extent,  but  it  must  be  taken  into  consideration  in 
selecting  chestnut  for  planting. 

SPANISH  CHESTNUT 

The  home  of  the  Spanish  chestnut  (Castanea  saliva)  is  the  south  and  south 
west  of  Europe,  and  on  the  slopes  of  the  lower  hills  of  Spain  and  Italy  it  is 
remarkable  for  its  size  and  beauty.  Pliny  says  that  Julius  Caesar  introduced 
it  into  Italy  from  Sardis  in  Asia  Minor,  and  that  the  Romans  greatly  appre 
ciated  the  "Sardian  acorn,"  as  the  nut  was  called.  The  chestnut  probably 
grew  wild  in  Greece  where,  as  early  as  the  fourth  century  B.  C.,  Theophrastus, 
the  Father  of  Botany,  speaks  of  it  as  covering  the  slopes  of  Olympus. 

Old  chestnut  trees  often  are  made  up  of  a  fusion  of  many  stems  into  one, 
which  explains  the  enormous  size  of  some  of  these  trees.  The  "Chestnut  of  a 
hundred  horses"  on  the  east  side  of  Mount  Etna  is  160  feet  in  circumference. 
It  is  entirely  hollow,  and  has  a  kiln  built  inside  it  for  drying  chestnuts,  which 
are  a  staple  article  of  food  in  south  Europe. 

The  chestnut  was  brought  to  England  during  the  Roman  occupation 
and  is  often  referred  to  in  accounts  of  early  English  deeds.  Henry  II,  in 
granting  land  to  the  Abbey  of  Flaxley  in  the  Forest  of  Dean,  mentions  the 
chestnut  trees  growing  there.  Shakespeare  makes  allusion  to  it  in  "Macbeth" 
and  the  "Taming  of  the  Shrew,"  particularly  to  the  use  of  the  nuts  for  food. 

The  Spanish  chestnut  has  been  planted  with  success  in  various  sections 
of  California.  The  best  known  tree  is  the  Hilgard  Chestnut,  which  stands 
on  the  campus  of  the  University  of  California  in  front  of  Agriculture  Hall. 
It  was  named  after  Dr.  E.  W.  Hilgard,  the  first  dean  of  the  College  of  Agri 
culture,  foremost  soil  expert  of  his  generation  and  one  of  the  pioneers  of  agri 
cultural  education  in  the  United  States. 

This  tree  was  planted  in  1885  and  now  is  thirty-five  feet  high  with  branches 
spread  over  a  circle  about  fifty  feet  in  diameter.  It  has  always  grown  in  the 

(61) 


open  without  interference  from  other  trees,  and  is  therefore  low-branched 
with  a  wide  spreading  rounded,  symmetrical  crown.  It  is  now  forty-one  inches 
in  diameter  at  one  foot  from  the  ground,  and  at  about  four  feet  the  trunk 
divides  into  eight  spreading  branches.  In  March,  1920,  during  the  Agricultural 
"labor  day"  the  students  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  graded  the  area  sur 
rounding  this  tree  and  planted  it  to  a  variety  of  trees  and  shrubs. 

In  England  the  chestnut  is  a  valuable  avenue  tree.  Across  an  ordinary 
drive  the  trees  will  meet  in  a  few  years.  The  old  trees  are  very  picturesque. 
The  thickness  of  the  trunks  and  stoutness  of  the  lateral  branches  well  justify 
the  description  of  Hamerton : 

"His  expression  is  that  of  sturdy  strength,  his  trunk  and  limbs  are 
built,  not  like  those  of  Apollo,  but  like  the  trunk  and  limbs  of  Hercules." 

COPPER  BEECH 

The  copper  beech  (Fagus  sylvatica  fiurfiurea)  is  a  horticultural  variety  of 
the  European  beech  which  is  cultivated  for  the  striking  color  effect  which  it 
gives.  Its  foliage  is  purplish  crimson  at  first,  changing  to  a  deep  lustrous 
purple  as  the  tree  matures. 

The  beech  of  the  Eastern  States  and  of  Europe  is  a  large  imposing  tree 
which  can  be  grown  in  its  native  habitat  with  very  little  attention.  The 
forester  looks  upon  it  as  "the  mother  of  the  forest"  because  of  the  protection 
it  gives  the  soil  besides  enriching  it  with  its  fallen  leaves.  In  California  it 
does  not  do  well  except  where  it  has  abundant  moisture  and  well-drained  soil. 
The  copper  beech  seems  to  be  the  best  adapted  to  our  conditions.  It  is  a 
small  tree  which  is  chiefly  fit  for  small  surroundings  and  for  contrast. 

CORAL  TREE 

The  coral  tree  (Erythrina  crista-galli)  comes  from  Brazil,  where  it  is  often 
used  to  shade  coffee  plantations.  It  sometimes  develops  a  short  trunk  on  which 
the  flowering  branches  die  back  after  blooming.  The  flowers  are  very  beautiful, 
being  very  large  and  borne  in  panicles  from  one  to  two  feet  long.  Their  color 
is  a  brilliant  crimson,  shaded  with  scarlet. 

I  his  tree  is  very  striking  in  a  garden,  but  is  very  subject  to  frost  even  in 
southern  California.  It  requires  good  soil  and  plenty  of  water  during  the 
summer  months.  It  has  a  sun-loving  nature  and  does  not  do  well  where  sub- 

(62) 


Plate  47.     LEMON-SCENTED    GUM    TRUNK.     San    Diego. 
One  of  the  eucalypts   which   is  unique  for   its   smooth,   ivory-white,    tapering   trunk   and   for   its    lemon-scented    foliage. 


V 

'-- ». . 


ject  to  the  cool  fogs  of  the  coast.  Its  attractive  trifoliate  leaves  and  striking 
blossoms,  however,  make  it  a  prized  ornamental  tree  wherever  it  can  be  suc 
cessfully  grown. 

CRAPE  MYRTLE 

Crape  myrtle  (Lager stroemia  indica)  was  given  its  generic  name  in  honor 
of  Lagerstroem,  a  Swede,  and  friend  of  Linnaeus.  It  is  a  small  tree  about 
twenty  feet  in  height,  which  is  generally  considered  as  a  shrub  because  of  its 
slow  growth.  Its  chief  attraction  are  its  showy  flowers  which  vary  in  color 
from  white  to  pink.  It  has  small  deciduous  leaves  and  very  smooth  bark, 
which  with  its  flowers  makes  it  a  favorite  choice  for  central  parkings  where 
large  trees  would  interfere  with  traffic,  and  where  ornament  is  the  chief  con 
sideration.  It  is  hardy  in  all  valley  portions  of  the  state. 

CHRISTMAS  BERRY 

The  Christmas  berry  (Photinia  arbutifolia)  is  a  distinctive  California 
shrub  which  grows  nowhere  else  in  this  country.  All  the  other  species,  of  which 
there  are  about  thirty,  are  found  chiefly  in  southern  and  eastern  Asia.  It  is 
the  glory  of  our  hillsides  in  fall  and  winter  with  its  bunches  of  crimson-red 
berries  in  contrast  with  its  glossy  green  foliage. 

Many  people  think  that  the  Christmas  berry,  commonly  called  California 
holly,  is  related  to  the  English  holly,  which  its  leaves  and  berries  closely 
resemble.  It  has  no  botanical  relationship,  but  the  spirit  that  prompts  its 
use  for  decorations  during  the  Christmas  season  recognizes  no  difference. 
Every  year  witnesses  more  people  gathering  "red  berries,"  and  in  some  sec 
tions  of  the  state  there  is  danger  that  this  attractive  shrub  will  become  extinct 
because  of  the  ruthless  way  in  which  it  is  treated. 

It  is  stated  by  forestry  officials  in  southern  California  that  the  Christmas 
berry  in  its  canyons  will  become  exhausted  within  three  years  unless  com 
mercial  and  individual  gatherers  stop  pulling  the  bushes  up  by  the  roots. 
Commercial  gatherers  are  said  to  be  picking  it  by  the  ton  to  be  made  into 
wreaths  that  retail  at  a  dollar  apiece. 

So  destructive  has  been  the  gathering  of  holly  in  San  Mateo  County 
that  arrests  have  been  made  for  trespass  by  owners  as  the  only  recourse  of 
stopping  the  vandalism  practiced.  People  who  would  not  think  of  going  into 

(63) 


private  grounds  and  chopping  down  an  ornamental  shrub,  think  nothing  of 
uprooting  a  holly  bush,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  nature's  ornaments. 

If  the  Christmas  berry  is  to  be  preserved  it  must  be  given  a  chance  to 
renew  itself  from  year  to  year.  This  it  will  clo  if  only  small  lateral  branches 
are  cut  off  with  a  knife  or  pruning  shears.  The  main  branch  system  should  not 
be  mutilated  since  wounds  cause  it  to  be  subject  to  diseases  such  as  the 
pear-blight,  which  will  eventually  kill  the  shrub.  The  removal  of  lateral 
branches  does  not  affect  its  health.  Vandalism  will  mean  the  exhaustion  of 
the  California  holly  even  as  the  arbutus  of  the  Eastern  States  was  destroyed 
by  ruthless  hands. 

The  native  Christmas  berry  thrives  under  cultivation  and  with  good 
care  grows  quickly.  A  Chinese  species  (Photinia  serrulata)  is  a  fine  shrub 
which  often  reaches  a  height  of  twenty  feet.  It  has  long  drooping  leaves  which 
are  very  dark  green  and  glossy  on  the  upper  surface.  Some  of  the  leaves 
turn  a  vivid  red  in  the  fall  and  persist  during  the  winter.  Small,  white  flowers 
in  large  heads  are  borne  in  great  profusion  followed  by  showy  berries.  This 
shrub  is  very  hardy  and  is  a  favorite  because  of  the  fine  ornamental  effect 
which  it  gives. 

DOGWOODS 

The  dogwoods  are  shrubs  or  small  trees  that  are  grown  for  their  attractive 
flowers  and  fruits.  The  name  dogwood  comes  from  the  fact  that  a  decoction 
of  the  bark  of  one  of  the  species  was  used  in  England  to  wash  mangy  dogs. 
The  generic  name  Cornus  is  from  the  Latin  cornus  and  has  reference  to  the 
horny  texture  of  the  wood. 

The  mountain  dogwood  (Cornus  nuttallii),  a  deciduous  native  species,  is 
one  of  the  finest  for  ornamental  planting.  In  favorable  situations  it  grows  to  a 
height  of  about  fifty  feet,  and  in  early  May,  when  entirely  covered  with 
great  white  bracts,  it  is  most  attractive.  In  the  fall,  when  laden  with  orange- 
colored  fruit,  it  gives  good  effects  in  shrubberies. 

The  evergreen  dogwood  (Cornus  capitata)  from  the  Himalayas  is  a  splen 
did  shrub  which  reaches  a  height  of  about  fifteen  feet.  The  flowers  are  large 
and  cream-colored,  followed  by  large,  red,  showy  fruits.  It  is  a  rare  plant 
at  present,  but  on  account  of  its  hardiness  and  beauty,  will  be  widely  grown 
when  better  known. 

(64) 


ELMS 

The  elms  belong  to  the  genus  Ulmus,  a  Latin  word  which  carries  a  ref 
erence  to  an  instrument  of  punishment,  probably  because  slaves  were  commonly 
whipped  with  rods  of  elm.  There  are  about  eighteen  species  distributed 
through  the  colder  and  temperate  regions  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  Few 
of  our  trees  have  a  wider  distribution.  The  elms  are  mostly  tall  trees  with 
medium  sized  leaves,  and  small  greenish  brown  flowers  that  appear  mostly  be 
fore  the  leaves.  They  have  graceful  outlines  and  luxuriant  foliage  which  gives 
them  a  dignified  and  courtly  appearance.  They  are  often  called  the  aristocrats 
of  trees. 

The  Wych  elm  of  England  used  to  be  considered  a  preservative  against 
witchcraft,  and  a  branch  was  put  in  a  churn  to  prevent  the  cream  from  being 
bewitched  and  the  coming  of  the  butter  hindered.  The  forked  branches  of  the 
tree  were  used  as  divining  rods,  and  riding  switches  from  it  were  supposed  to 
insure  good  luck  on  a  journey. 

Early  English  peoples  worshipped  their  heathen  deities  in  elm  groves 
which  led  the  Saxon  King  Edgar  to  issue  the  following  decree : 

"We  decree  that  every  priest  shall  anxiously  advance  Christianity 
and  forbid  tree-worship,  divination  with  the  dead,  omens,  chorus  with 
songs,  and  many  other  illusions  which  are  practiced  in  asylums  on  Elms 
and  on  various  other  trees,  by  which  many  are  perverted  who  ought  not 
to  be  so." 

The  American  elm  is  closely  associated  with  early  colonial  history.  In 
"The  Autocrat  of  the  Breakfast  Table,"  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  characteristi 
cally  describes  it : 

"The  American  elm  is  tall,  graceful,  slender-sprayed,  and  drooping 
as  if  from  languor.  The  English  elm  is  compact,  robust,  holds  its 
branches  up,  and  carries  its  leaves  for  weeks  longer  than  our  own 
native  tree.  Is  this  typical  of  the  creative  force  on  the  two  sides  of  the 
ocean,  or  not?" 

English  people  used  to  gather  under  elms  on  the  village  greens  to  debate 
public  questions.  This  old  custom  probably  led  the  early  settlers  in  New 
England  to  plant  elms  in  their  dooryards  and  on  the  village  greens,  and  to 
regard  them  as  symbols  of  liberty.  Liberty  Elms  were  planted  in  Boston, 

5—11898  (65) 


Providence,  Newport  and  New  York.    The  Providence  elm  was  dedicated  to 

the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  on  July  25,  1768,  in  words  which  were  in  part  as  follows: 

"We  do,   in  the  name  and  behalf  of  all  true  sons  of  liberty  in 

America,  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  Corsica,  or  wheresoever  they  may  be 

dispersed  throughout  the  world  dedicate  this  tree  of  liberty     *     *     *. 

When  they  look  toward  this  sacred  elm  may  they  be  penetrated  with  a 

sense  of  their  duty  to  themselves  and  their  posterity,  and  may  they, 

like  the  house  of  David,  grow  stronger,  while  their  enemies,  like  the 

house  of  Saul,  shall  grow  weaker  and  weaker." 

A  few  years  later  on  July  3,  i/75>  George  Washington  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  Continental  Army  under  an  elm  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

The  "Treaty  Tree,"  under  which  William  Penn  concluded  a  treaty  with 
the  Indians,  was  an  elm.  This  tree,  which  was  destroyed  by  a  storm  a  century 
ago,  has  been  immortalized  in  the  famous  painting  by  Benjamin  West. 

AMERICAN  ELM 

American  elm  (  (  'Imus  americana)  is  a  striking  tree  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year.  In  the  winter  its  graceful  limbs  stand  out  against  the  sky.  In  the  spring 
it  is  one  of  the  first  trees  to  blossom.  Tiny  reddish-brown  blossoms  appear, 
shortly  followed  by  the  fruit,  which  is  surrounded  by  flat,  oval-shaped  wings 
which  later  help  to  scatter  it  from  the  parent  tree.  The  fruit  matures  about 
the  time  the  leaves  begin  to  unfold  and  when  summer  comes  the  tree  rises 
like  a  great  fountain  of  brilliant  green. 

New  England  is  noted  for  its  magnificent  elms  which  were  planted  by  the 
early  settlers.  New  Haven  is  known  as  the  Elm  City  because  of  the  many 
stately  elms  that  line  its  streets.  Connecticut  is  noted  for  its  elms,  the  largest 
being  the  Wethersfield  Elm  in  Hartford  County.  This  tree,  which  is  250 
years  old,  is  ninety-seven  feet  high  and  has  a  circumference  of  twenty-eight 
feet  and  a  branch  spread  of  147  feet.  On  the  White  House  grounds  at  Wash 
ington  stands  a  noble  elm  planted  by  John  Quincy  Adams  when  he  was 
President. 

New  Englanders  brought  the  elm  with  them  to  the  Middle  West,  where 
many  of  the  towns  and  cities  have  their  streets  lined  with  this  beautiful 
tree. 

Indiana's  most  famous  tree  is  the  Constitutional  Elm,  located  at  Corydon. 
On  June  10,  1816,  members  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  met  beneath 

(66) 


Plate  49.      SWAMP    MAHOGANY.      Los    Angeles. 

This    species    of    eucalyptus    has    been    widely    planted    a;    a    street    tree    because    of    its    symmetrical    growth,    white 
flowers    and    glossy    foliage. 


Plate   50.      SCARLET-FLOWERING    GUM.      Pasadena. 
One   of   the   most    ornamental    of   the   eucalypts   because   of    its   lar^e,    leathery    leaves    and    handsome   crimson    flowers. 


this  tree,  which  is  a  few  hundred  feet  from  the  first  State  House.  This  tree 
now  has  a  spread  of  124  feet. 

Thanks  to  the  foresight  of  some  of  her  early  settlers,  some  of  the  cities 
in  northern  California,  notably  Sacramento  and  Chico,  have  many  stately 
specimens  on  their  streets.  Had  these  pioneers  planted  rapid  growing  but 
short  lived  trees  like  poplars  or  soft  maples  there  would  now  be  straggling, 
dying  trees  instead  of  picturesque  old  elms  forming  Gothic  archways  like 
cathedral  naves. 

With  all  its  advantages,  the  American  elm  has  some  objectionable  fea 
tures,  such  as  its  suckering  habit  and  its  susceptibility  to  the  attack  of  insect 
pests.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  to  be  as  badly  attacked  by  pests  in  Cali 
fornia  as  in  the  Eastern  States,  where  the  gypsy  moth,  brown-tail  moth  and 
elm-leaf  beetle  are  causing  so  much  trouble.  Its  chief  enemies  in  this  state 
are  aphids.  This  pest  does  not  attack  the  English  elm  to  any  extent,  which 
often  leads  to  its  choice  over  the  American  elm. 

The  value  of  shade  trees  such  as  the  elm  can  hardly  be  estimated.  Not 
long  ago  a  well  known  landscape  architect,  who  had  charge  of  laying  out  one 
of  the  most  famous  estates  in  America,  was  asked  how  much  a  certain  tree 
was  worth.  "Worth,"  he  said  emphatically,  "It  is  worth  the  whole  place, 
for  it  is  creative  of  beauty,  and  around  that  tree  I  build  everything." 

Only  recently  the  Bronx  Parking  Commission  in  New  York  City  went 
to  the  heavy  expense  of  constructing  protective  channels  for  the  roots  of  a 
large  elm  tree  in  order  to  relieve  them  from  pressure  from  a  thirty  foot  retain 
ing  wall  which  otherwise  would  have  caused  the  tree  to  die. 

ENGLISH  ELM 

English  elm  (Utmus  camjpestris)  has  a  smaller  and  more  rounded  head 
than  the  American  elm,  and  retains  its  foliage  later  in  the  season.  It  is  a 
favorite  tree  in  England  where  it  is  widely  planted.  The  famous  "Long  Walk" 
in  Windsor  Park  is  lined  by  this  handsome  and  imposing  tree  which  Boulger 
well  describes  in  the  following  words : 

"When  bare  of  leaves,  and  standing  black  against  a  dull  wintry 
sky,  the  tiny  twiglets  on  the  topmost  boughs  appear  as  delicate  lace- 
work,  far  exceeding  in  fineness  the  minutest  ornament  of  the  Gothic 
architect,  and  yet  graduating  downwards  into  mighty  beams,  so  as  to 
suggest  at  once  the  strength  of  Nature's  framework  and  the  delicacy  of 
her  finish."  (67) 


The  eighteenth  of  April  is  termed  Ulmifrondes  in  the  south  of  England, 
for  then  the  tree  is  generally  in  full  foliage.  In  August  and  September,  when 
other  trees  are  changing  hue,  the  English  elm  retains  its  sombre  green  foliage, 
and  it  is  not  until  after  all  its  neighbors  have  shed  their  leaves,  that  its  leaves 
begin  to  fade  and  fall. 

When  planted  in  California  the  English  elm  makes  an  erect,  rapid-growing 
tree,  which  is  remarkably  free  from  the  insect  pests  so  common  to  the  American 
elm.  It  stands  drought  well,  and  because  of  this  quality  as  well  as  its  long 
life,  neatness  and  symmetry,  is  an  excellent  tree  for  street  and  highway 
planting.  Its  chief  objections  are  the  suckers  which  spring  in  great  abundance 
around  the  base  of  the  trunk.  Browning  refers  to  them  as  "the  brush-wood 
sheaf  round  the  elm  tree  bole. 

HUNTINGTON  ELM 

The  Huntington  elm  (  i  Imus  glabra  vegeta)  is  a  hybrid  elm  of  erect  habit 
and  rapid,  vigorous  growth.  The  large  green  leaves  make  a  dense  foliage  which  is 
very  attractive.  This  elm  is  excellent  for  street  and  highway  planting  because 
of  its  resistance  to  drought  and  insect  enemies. 

EMPRESS  TREE 

The  Empress  tree  (Paulownia  imperialis)  takes  its  generic  name  after- 
Anna  Paulownia,  a  Russian  princess.  It  is  a  native  of  China  and  greatly  re 
sembles  the  catalpa,  the  chief  difference  being  in  the  shape  of  the  pods.  It 
reaches  a  height  of  about  forty  feet  and  has  stout  spreading  branches  which 
form  a  round  head.  The  heart  shaped  leaves  are  large  and  tropical  looking. 
The  lavender  flowers,  which  resemble  those  of  the  foxglove,  appear  in  large 
terminal  panicles  followed  by  pods  that  remain  on  the  tree  during  the  winter. 
This  tree  is  adopted  for  semitropical  effects  and  makes  a  good  growth  on 
fertile  soil.  It  is  very  subject  to  sunburn,  however,  and  should  be  planted 
where  it  will  be  well  sheltered. 

EUCALYPTUS 

The  genus  Eucalpytus,  which  is  native  to  Australia  and  the  Malayan 
region,  embraces  about  300  species,  one  hundred  or  more  of  which  have  been 
introduced  into  California.  The  name  is  derived  from  the  Greek  words  eu, 
meaning  well,  and  kalypto,  to  cover  as  with  a  lid.  The  last  term  has  reference 

(68) 


Plate   51.     BLUE    GUM.     San    Luis    Obispo. 

Its  light  bluish-green   foliage   gives  this  tree  its  common  name.     It  is  the  best  known  species  of  eucalyptus  in  California 
and   grows   rapclly   in   favorable   situations. 


Plate   52.      EMPRESS    TREE.      San    Luis   Obispo. 

Named    after    a     Russian    princess.      It    has    heart-shaped     leaves    and    lavender    flowers    which    resemble    those    of    the 
foxglove. 


to  the  conical,  lid-like  covering  of  the  buds  which  falls  off  before  the  flowers 
open.  Most  of  the  eucalypts  secrete  resinous  gums,  hence  they  are  commonly 
known  as  gum  trees. 

Eucalyptus  has  been  established  successfully  in  semitropical  and  tem 
perate  regions  all  over  the  world.  It  is  frequently  planted  in  the  malarial 
regions  of  warm  climates,  as  at  the  Campagna  at  Rome,  to  drain  the  swamps 
which  give  rise  to  malaria,  but  its  greatest  value  is  for  ornament,  shade, 
windbreaks  and  fuel.  In  Australia  it  is  extensively  cut  for  lumber,  but  it  has 
not  been  generally  successful  in  this  country  for  that  purpose  on  account  of 
the  checking  which  takes  place  in  seasoning  due  to  the  high  water  content  of 
the  wood. 

Eucalyptus  was  introduced  into  California  in  the  early  fifties  by  travelers 
who  were  impressed  with  its  rapid  development  in  its  native  habitat.  The  first 
plantations  were  around  San  Francisco  Bay  and  in  the  Santa  Clara  Valley. 
About  1865,  Mr.  Elwood  Cooper  set  out  large  plantations  on  his  ranch  near 
Santa  Barbara.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  extensively  planted  in  various 
parts  of  the  state  as  ornamental  and  shade  trees. 

It  was  early  found  that  all  species  were  sensitive  to  frost  although  a  few 
species  will  endure  temperatures  as  low  as  eighteen  degrees  Fahrenheit  without 
injury.  In  general,  eucalyptus  can  be  successfully  planted  in  all  sections  of 
the  state  suitable  for  the  culture  of  citrus  fruits.  Under  favorable  conditions 
the  trees  reach  a  large  size  in  a  short  space  of  time. 

All  species  of  eucalypts  have  evergreen  leaves,  and  for  this  reason  are  not 
as  desirable  for  highway  planting  as  deciduous  trees,  because  they  hinder  the 
road-bed  from  drying.  In  addition,  the  strong  development  of  the  roots  im 
pairs  the  fertility  of  adjoining  land.  For  this  reason  many  rows  of  eucalyptus 
trees  bordering  citrus  groves  in  southern  California  have  been  cut  down. 
There  are  many  locations,  however,  where  the  eucalypts  find  favor  in  spite  of 
these  objections  because  of  the  fine  effect  which  they  give,  and  because  of 
their  value  for  fuel.  Many  of  the  eucalypts  sprout  prolifically  when  cut  and 
produce  firewood  at  a  rapid  rate,  at  the  same  time  providing  ornament  and 
shade. 

Because  of  the  many  species  of  eucalypts  found  in  the  state,  no  attempt 
is  being  made  to  consider  them  all  in  this  publication.  Only  those  are  given 
which  appear  preferable  for  shade  and  ornamental  purposes. 

(69) 


BLUE  GUM 

Blue  gum  (Eucalyptus  globulus)  is  the  best  known  species  in  California,, 
and  derives  its  name  from  the  light  bluish-green  color  of  its  juvenile  foliage. 
It  is  probably  the  fastest  grower  of  any  of  the  eucalypts.  In  Australia  the 
usual  height  is  over  200  feet.  In  California  trees  'thirty  years  old  have  at 
tained  the  height  of  i$o  feet  and  a  diameter  of  from  three  to  four  feet  under 
good  soil  and  moisture  conditions. 

Blue  gum  reaches  its  best  development  along  the  coast  and  river  bottoms 
where  moisture  is  plentiful  and  foggy  days  frequent.  It  is  frequently  found 
in  the  towns  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  valleys,  however,  and  en 
dures  frost  as  far  north  as  Tehama  County. 

Individuals  of  this  species  grow  straight  as  a  rule  and  develop  handsome, 
globular  heads.  On  old  trees,  the  leaves  are  elongated,  sickle-shaped  and 
dark  green  on  both  sides.  The  white  flowers  which  appear  from  January  to 
May  give  rise  to  a  dark  green  valve  shaped  fruit. 

Although  blue  gum  is  a  beautiful  tree,  its  size  makes  it  unsuitable  for 
street  planting  because  of  the  damage  which  it  eventually  does  to  curbs  and 
sidewalks  and  the  invasion  of  sewers  by  its  roots.  It  is  best  adapted  to  wide 
boulevards  where  it  can  develop  without  interfering  with  adjoining  improve 
ments. 

RED  GUM 

Red  gum  (Eucalyptus  rostrata)  is  almost  as  fast  a  grower  as  blue  gum 
and  has  the  advantages  of  being  able  to  stand  more  cold  in  its  youth  as  well  as 
more  drought.  This  makes  it  a  good  choice  for  interior  sections  where  there  is 
considerable  range  in  temperatures.  Its  chief  objection  is  that  it  does  not  tend 
to  grow  erect  even  in  close  plantings. 

The  twigs  of  old  trees  have  a  reddish  hue,  and  the  trunks  are  dark  gray, 
and  the  head  broad.  The  leaves  are  elongated  and  narrow,  and  the  white 
flowers  which  appear  in  May  and  June  are  borne  in  clusters.  Red  gum  at 
tains  considerable  size  under  a  wide  variety  of  soils  even  when  some  alkali 
is  present,  and  forms  a  large  percentage  of  plantations  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  state. 

MANNA  GUM 

Manna  gum  (Eucalyptus  viminalis)  is  a  handsome  tree  with  long  pendu 
lous  branches  which  makes  it  picturesque  for  boulevard  planting.  The  bark  is 

(70) 


Plate   53.      DOUGLAS     FIR.     Sacramento. 

An   important   western   timber   tree  that  has   value   for  ornamental    purposes    because    of    its    rapid    growth    and    soft, 
dark    green    foliage. 


Plate    54.      SPANISH     FIR.      BurlinKame. 
A    small   tree   which    is   of   .nterest    because   of   its   rigid   acute    leaves    which    entirely    surround    the    branchlets. 


shed  each  year  at  the  blooming  period  of  the  tree.  It  will  thrive  under  a  variety 
of  conditions,  but  prefers  a  deep,  well-drained  soil.  The  species  is  widely 
planted  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley.  There  is  a  tree  near  Reedley  in  Tulare 
County  on  which  records  have  been  kept  since  it  was  planted  in  1889.  The 
last  measurement  taken  in  1916  gives  the  height  of  this  tree  as  1 30  feet  and  the 
circumference  as  twenty-three  feet  at  three  feet  above  the  ground. 

The  manna  gum  stands  as  low  temperatures  as  the  red  gum  and  blue 
gum  and  is  found  in  a  flourishing  condition  in  the  vicinity  of  Chico.  Its  chief 
objection  is  the  shedding  of  the  bark. 

LEMON-SCENTED  GUM 

Lemon-scented  gum  (Eucalyptus  citriodora)  is  unique  for  its  smooth, 
ivory  white,  tapering  trunk  and  for  its  lemon-scented  foliage.  It  has  an  erect 
habit  of  growth  and  its  drooping  branches  with  their  long,  narrow  leaves  give 
it  a  weeping  effect  which  makes  it  attractive  as  an  ornamental. 

This  species  is  limited  to  the  warmer  parts  of  the  state  because  of  its  in 
ability  to  stand  much  frost.  Some  fine  specimens  are  found  in  San  Diego  and 
Los  Angeles.  It  requires  a  fairly  good  well-drained  soil  for  best  results,  but 
will  grow  on  any  tillable  soil  free  from  alkali. 

DESERT  GUM 

Desert  gum  (Eucalyptus  rudis)  is  a  medium-sized  tree  from  seventy-five 
to  one  hundred  feet  in  height  with  a  rough,  persistent  bark  and  a  drooping 
branch  habit.  It  grows  erect  and  the  oval  shaped  foliage  is  thick  and  strongly 
scented.  It  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  eucalypts  for  street  planting  because  of 
its  compact  habit  and  persistent  bark.  Its  name  is  given  it  for  its  hardiness 
in  irrigated  sections  of  the  desert. 

SUGAR  GUM 

Sugar  gum  (Eucalyptus  corynocalyx)  reaches  its  best  development  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  state.  In  the  interior  valleys  it  has  not  proven  frost 
resistant.  It  is  very  resistant  to  drought  and  hot  winds,  and  thrives  equally 
well  on  the  coast  and  in  the  southern  interior  valleys. 

The  bark,  which  flakes  off  on  older  trees,  varies  in  color  from  a  cream  to  a 
dark  gray.  The  leaves  are  ovate,  dark  green  on  the  upper  side  and  lighter  in 
color  beneath.  The  growth  is  erect  with  a  symmetrical, well  balanced  crown. 

(71) 


It  is  widely  used  as  a  street  tree  at  San  Diego  and  for  wind  breaks  near  River 
side  and  San  Bernardino.     It  tends  to  become  straggling  with  age. 

SCARLET-FLOWERING  GUM 

Scarlet-flowering  gum  (Eucalyptus  Jici  folia)  is  an  ornamental  species  with 
large,  leathery,  wavy-margined  leaves  and  handsome  crimson  flowers.  It  is 
of  slow  growth  and  is  well  adapted  for  streets  where  there  is  no  clanger  of 
injuring  the  sidewalks  with  its  roots.  It  is  a  common  ornamental  tree  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  state  and  a  very  fine  honey  producing  plant. 

WHITE  IRONBARK 

White  ironbark  (Eucalyptus  leucoxylon)  is  a  fairly  tall  tree  which  branches 
well  down  the  trunk.  The  deciduous  bark  of  the  old  trees  varies  from  a 
cream  to  a  very  dull  gray.  This  species  reaches  its  greatest  development 
along  the  coast  and  localities  where  there  is  plenty  of  rain,  but  will  with 
stand  drought  conditions  at  temperatures  of  fifteen  to  twenty  degrees  Fahren 
heit.  A  variety  "rosea"  of  this  species  has  beautiful  pink  flowers,  and  can  be 
grown  in  localities  where  the  scarlet-flowering  gum  will  not  thrive. 

AUSTRALIAN  BEECH 

Australian  beech  (Eucalyptus  polyanthema),  commonly  called  the  "red 
box,"  varies  from  a  small  to  a  large  sized  tree.  The  bark  is  rough  and  per 
sistent  and  the  foliage  has  a  distinctive  gray-green  color.  It  grows  near  the 
coast,  but  will  do  well  in  the  interior.  It  has  considerable  ornamental  value 
because  of  its  round  leaves  of  silvery  lustre,  and  has  small  white  flowers  which 

occur  in  large  clusters. 

SPOTTED  GUM 

Spotted  gum  (Eucalyptus  calophylla)  is  a  moderate  sized  tree  which 
thrives  in  most  instances  near  the  coast.  It  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental 
species  with  its  large  glossy  leaves  and  large  white  flowers,  which  are  valuable 
for  bees.  It  is  easily  affected  by  frost  and  does  not  do  well  except  in  southern 
California. 

EUGENIA 

The  name  of  the  genus  Eugenia  is  in  honor  of  Prince  Eugene  of  Savoy. 
It  includes  a  large  number  of  shrubs  and  plants  mostly  from  the  tropics,  in 
cluding  the  trees  that  produce  the  allspice  and  clove  of  commerce. 

(72) 


A    hr    common    to    the    Sierras    of    California.      It    is    ofte.i    called    "silver    fir"    because    of    its    ashy-grey    bark.      It    has 
a   very   regular   and    symmetrical   growth. 


•T^- 


.-.#"    " 


•  ""*  - 


.*,•*.*- 


Plate   56.      NORDMAN'S     SILVER     FIR.      Del     Monte. 


and    silvery    underneath.      It    is    one 


Plate   57.      FLAME    TREE.      Coronado. 
A   tree   from    Australia   that    takes   its   name   from   its   scarlet    flowers    which    are    produced    in    showy    clusters. 


The  Australian  brush  cherry  (Eugenia  myrtifolia)  is  probably  the  best 
species  for  planting  in  this  state,  since  it  can  be  grown  as  a  shrub  or  tree. 
It  is  a  small  evergreen  tree  with  many  myrtle-like  glossy  green  leaves.  The 
young  foliage  shoots  are  red  and  form  a  pleasing  contrast  with  the  older  leaves. 
The  myrtle-like  blossoms,  which  are  creamy  in  color,  occur  in  profusion, 
followed  by  reddish  globular-shaped  fruit.  The  form  of  this  tree  is  columnar 
and  the  growth  is  fairly  rapid.  In  southern  California  a  height  of  forty  feet 
in  twenty  years  was  reached  by  one  tree  noted  at  Coronado.  Eugenia  stands 
pruning  well  and  is  often  planted  close  together  to  form  tall,  narrow  hedges. 
It  should  make  a  splendid  street  tree  in  most  parts  of  the  state  where  the  frosts 
are  not  too  severe,  because  of  its  many  admirable  qualities.  It  is  particularly 
adapted  to  narrow  streets  where  heavy  shade  is  not  desired.  It  sometimes 
is  defoliated  by  cold  north  winds  so  should  be  used  with  caution  in  exposed 
places. 

GOLDEN  CHAIN 

The  golden  chain  (Laburnum  vulgar  e}  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental  of 
small  trees.  It  is  a  native  of  the  mountainous  woods  of  Central  Europe  which 
it  graces  with  its  smooth,  shiny  leaves  and  long  pendent  racemes  of  yellow 
"golden  chain"  flowers. 

All  the  green  parts  of  the  tree  are  poisonous,  which  was  known  to  Pliny, 
who  stated  that  the  bees  never  touched  its  blossoms.  The  wood  is  tough  and 
hard  and  was  used  for  bows  by  the  ancient  Gauls. 

The  golden  chain  grows  erect  and  reaches  a  height  of  twenty  to  thirty 
feet.  It  has  an  irregular  picturesque  head,  smooth  olive-green  bark,  and  small 
clover-like  leaves.  The  hanging  clusters  of  fragrant  golden  blossoms  which 
are  set  so  thickly  upon  the  tree  that  the  foliage  is  well-nigh  hidden,  are  the 
chief  charm  of  the  tree. 

This  tree  is  adapted  to  small  lawns  or  borders  of  shrubbery  where  it  should 
be  allowed  enough  space  to  show  its  golden  blossoms  as  a  contrast  to  the  dark- 
green  foliage.  It  thrives  on  \vell-drained  soils,  particularly  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  state.  An  interesting  feature  of  this  tree  is  the  expelling  of  the  seed 
from  pods  on  dry  days  with  considerable  force  and  a  noticeable  crackling 
noise. 

(73) 


HAWTHORNS 

The  hawthorns  belong  to  the  Rose  tribe  and  owe  their  name  Crataegus 
(from  the  Greek,  kratos,  strength)  to  the  density  and  strength  of  their  wood. 
The  genus  includes  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  species,  which  have  a 
northern  range  in  Europe,  Asia  and  North  America. 

Hawthorns  are  among  the  most  showy  of  the  smaller  deciduous  trees 
due  to  their  foliage,  flowers  and  fruit.  The  deep  glossy  green  foliage  holds 
its  color  until  late  in  the  fall  when  it  turns  to  various  brilliant  autumn  colors. 
The  flowers,  which  are  white,  pink  and  scarlet,  are  double  and  rose-like  in 
some  species.  The  fruit  is  apple-like,  yellow  or  red,  and  hangs  late  into  the 
fall.  Most  of  the  hawthorns  are  spiny. 

The  hawthorn,  which  is  also  known  as  May,  Whitethorn  and  Albespeine, 
is  deeply  enshrined  in  the  traditions  of  England  where  it  has  been  a  char 
acteristic  tree  from  the  earliest  days.  The  Greeks  regarded  it  as  the  emblem 
of  hope,  and  it  was  carried  in  their  wedding  processions,  and  used  to  deck  the 
altar  of  Hymen.  Its  symbolism  underwent  a  change  in  mediaeval  times, 
however,  owing  to  the  belief  that  Christ  was  crowned  with  the  branches  of 
this  tree,  a  belief  that  is  quaintly  told  by  Sir  John  Mandeville: 

"Then  was  our  Lord  yled  into  a  gardyn,  and  there  the  Jews  scorned 
hym,  and  maden  hym  a  crown  of  the  branches  of  the  Albiespyne,  that 
is  Whitethorn,  that  grew  in  the  same  gardyn,  and  setten  yt  upon  hys 
heved.  And  therefore  hath  the  \Vhitethorn  many  virtues.  For  he 
that  beareth  a  branch  on  hym  thereof,  no  thundre,  ne  no  maner  of  tem 
pest,  may  dere  hym,  ne  in  the  howse  that  yt  is  ynne  may  non  evil  ghost 
enter." 

The  Holy  Crown  was  reverently  preserved  at  Constantinople  for  a 
time,  but  it  was  pledged  to  the  Venetians  as  a  bond  for  a  large  sum  of  money. 
It  was  acquired  by  St.  Louis  of  France  in  the  thirteenth  century,  who  built 
the  beautiful  Sainte  Chapelle  for  it  at  Paris.  There  is  a  legend  that  when  the 
Emperor  Charlemagne  knelt  before  the  relic  in  the  eighth  century,  it  blossomed 
afresh  and  the  scent  of  hawthorn  filled  the  air. 

The  celebrated  Glastonbury  Thorn  of  England  is  supposed  to  have  sprung 
over  night  from  the  staff  of  St.  Joseph  of  Arimathaea.  It  blossoms  early  in 
the  year,  sometimes  as  early  as  Christmas  day,  supposedly  in  honor  of  the 
Divine  birth. 

(74) 


Plate   59.      ENGLISH     HAWTHORN.     Del     Monte. 

"In    hawthorn   time   the    heart   is   light. 
The   world   is   sweet   in   sound   and    sight, 
Glad   thoughts  and   birds   take   flower  and   flight." 

— Swinburne. 


Henry  VII  adopted  hawthorn  for  his  badge  because  at  the  battle  of  Bos- 
worth  Field  the  crown  of  England  was  stolen  from  Richard  III  and  hidden 
in  a  hawthorn.  It  was  found,  however,  and  the  placing  of  it  on  the  head  of 
Henry  immediately  after  its  recovery  gave  rise  to  the  old  proverb,  "Cleave  to 
the  crown  though  it  hang  on  a  bush." 

No  hardy  flowering  tree  gives  a  finer  color  effect  than  the  hawthorn,  and 
it  is  widely  used  for  ornamental  purposes.  It  also  makes  an  attractive  street 
tree  when  small  trees  are  desired.  Its  chief  objection  is  its  susceptibility  to 
various  insects,  particularly  the  San  Jose  scale.  The  form  is  rather  irregular, 
but  can  be  easily  trained.  Hawthorns  are  easily  transplanted,  and  flourish  in 
good  stiff  loam  or  clayey  soil. 

ENGLISH  HAWTHORN 

The  English  hawthorn  (Crataegus  oxyacantha)  is  a  celebrated  hedge  form 
ing  bush  which  reaches  a  height  of  thirty  feet  as  a  tree.  The  old  trees  have 
gnarled  trunks,  and  thick  bark  scored  by  furrows.  The  branches  carry  short, 
sharp  spines  and  in  their  winter  condition  are  dense  and  matted  looking. 

The  charm  of  the  tree  is  most  apparent  in  the  spring  when  its  branches 
are  decked  with  tiny  nosegays  of  rose-like  flowers  which  crown  the  tree  with 
"Mays  fair  diadem."  After  the  petals  fall  the  once  snowy  hawthorn  assumes 
a  crimson  hue  due  to  the  myriads  of  red  berries  into  which  the  flowers  have 
been  transformed. 

The  charm  of  the  hawthorn  at  all  seasons  of  the  year  has  endeared  it  to 
the  English  people.  Its  place  in  their  lives  was  observed  by  Goldsmith  who 
says: 

"The  hawthorn  bush,  with  seats  beneath  its  shade, 
For  talking  age  or  whispering  lovers  made." 

HICKORIES 

The  hickories  formerly  formed  extensive  forests  in  Greenland  and  Europe, 
but  no  hickories  are  now  found  growing  naturally  outside  of  North  America. 
Eleven  species  are  found  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  one  in  Mexico. 
The.  hickories  were  called  walnuts  by  the  early  explorers  since  they  resembled 
the  Circassian  walnut  with  which  they  were  familiar. 

The  name  is  taken  after  the  Indian  word  "Pawcohiccora,"  which  was  a 
dressing  eaten  with  hominy,  made  from  the  milk  of  pounded  hickory  nuts. 

(75) 


Captain  John  Smith  mentions  it  in  his  account  of  his  adventures  among  the 
Indians. 

The  hickories  were  much  prized  by  the  Indians,  who  made  most  of  their 
bows  and  arrows  from  their  wood.  They  used  hickory  withes  to  bind  their 
wigwam  poles  together,  and  the  nuts  furnished  a  valuable  part  of  their  winter's 
food.  From  the  sap  was  made  an  ointment  which  they  used  to  supple  their 
joints,  and  hickory  ashes  were  used  by  them  to  preserve  their  meat. 

The  wood  is  very  hard  and  tough,  which  may  be  the  reason  the  term 
"Old  Hickory"  was  given  General  Andrew  Jackson  by  the  soldiers,  although 
this  nickname  may  have  been  bestowed  during  the  war  with  the  Creek  Indians 
in  1813  when  he  fed  his  men  on  hickory  nuts  when  rations  were  short. 

The  hickories  have  been  called  the  "artist  trees"  because  of  their  pic 
turesque  appearance  due  to  their  shaggy  bark,  gnarled  branches  and  stout 
twigs.  In  the  springtime  they  are  beautiful  with  dainty  leaves  and  tasseled 
flowers,  and  in  the  summer  their  handsome  light-green  leaves  cast  a  heavy 
shade.  When  autumn  comes  the  leaves  turn  to  a  clear  yellow.  There  is  an 
old  belief  that  if  they  are  brilliant  yellowr,  the  next  harvest  will  be  a  rich  one. 

The  hickories  reach  their  best  development  in  the  southern  Appalachians. 
The  most  important  one  is  the  shag  bark  (Hicoria  ovata),  which  attains  a 
height  of  120  feet  and  a  diameter  of  three  to  four  feet.  The  long,  ragged 
strips  of  bark  that  clothe  the  trunk  give  it  its  name. 

All  the  hickories  make  their  best  growth  in  good,  rich,  bottom  soil  and 
in  sheltered  situations.  They  are  slow-growing,  but  form  handsome  broad 

•/  C*  C7' 

heads  and  live  for  many  years.  Very  few  hickories  have  been  planted  in 
California,  but  there  is  no  reason  why  they  should  not  do  well  when  planted 
under  proper  conditions. 

PECAN 

The  pecan  (Hicoria  pecan)  is  the  most  imposing  of  the  hickories  in  its 
native  habitat  in  the  Southern  States,  where  it  is  found  on  low,  rich  ground 
in  the  vicinity  of  streams.  Near  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  is  a  tree  which 
measures  over  eighteen  feet  in  circumference  at  breast  height  and  which  is 
over  150  feet  in  height. 

There  is  a  weird  story  relating  to  a  leafless  pecan  tree  which  formerly 
stood  near  New  Orleans.  In  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  January  8,  1815, 
the  British  lost  a  number  of  officers  among  them  being  General  Packenham. 

(76) 


Plate   61.      SHAG-BARK    HICKORY.      Berkeley. 

Mature   trees   have   shaggy   bark,    gnarled  branches   and   short  twigs,   which  has  caused  them  to  be  called   "artist  trees' 
because   of   their   picturesque   appearance. 


Plate   62.      HOLLY.      Del    Monte. 

"Now   of    all    the    trees    by    the    King's    highway. 

Which    do   you   love   the   best? 
O.    the   tree   that   is   green    upon    Christmas   day 

The   bush   with   the   bleeding    heart. 
Now    the    Holly   with    her    drops   of   blood    for   me 
ror   that   is  our  dear   Aunt   Mary's  tree." 

("Aunt   Mary"   is  a   Cornish   and   quite   reverent   term   of  endearment  for   the   Virgin.) 


It  was  decided  to  ship  their  bodies  to  England,  preserved  in  casks  of  rum. 
Part  of  the  preparation  consisted  in  removing  the  internal  organs,  which  were 
buried  under  the  pecan  tree  already  mentioned.  The  story  goes  that  this 
sympathetic  tree  promptly  dropped  its  leaves,  and  superstitious  negroes  for 
decades  pointed  to  blood  stains  on  its  trunk. 

The  pecan  has  much  economic  importance  because  of  its  nuts,  which 
are  long,  smooth,  reddish  and  slender,  and  so  thin-shelled  that  they  may 
sometimes  be  crushed  with  the  fingers.  Aside  from  its  value  as  a  nut-bearer, 
however,  the  pecan  is  a  beautiful  ornamental  and  shade  tree  which  well  deserves 
a  thorough  trial  in  California. 

A  tree  of  this  species  near  the  Bidwell  residence  in  Chico  is  120  feet 
high  and  one  of  the  stateliest  of  the  many  beautiful  trees  on  the  grounds. 

On  the  Patterson  ranch  near  Newark,  Alameda  County,  are  five  specimen 
trees  of  the  King-nut  (Hicoria  laciniosa)  and  the  Shagbark  hickory  (Hicoria 
ovata),  which  were  grow7n  from  nuts  brought  across  the  plains  by  Mr.  Patterson 
in  the  late  '50*5. 

HOLLIES 

The  hollies  belong  to  the  genus  Ilex,  which  is  the  classical  name  of  the 
evergreen  oak  of  Southern  Europe.  They  are  small  trees  and  shrubs  which 
have  much  ornamental  value  because  of  their  evergreen  spiny  foliage,  their 
delicate,  white  flowers  and  bright  red  berries. 

From  the  earliest  days  the  holly  has  had  a  religious  significance.  There 
is  a  tradition  that  the  holly  sprang  up  beneath  the  footsteps  of  Christ  when 
he  first  walked  on  earth,  which  led  to  the  belief  that  it  was  reverenced  by 
animals,  who  were  never  known  to  injure  it.  To  Christians  the  evergreen 
leaves  spoke  of  immortality  and  the  blood-red  berries  foretold  the  Passion. 
The  Romans  used  holly  branches  in  their  winter  festivals  of  Saturnalia,  and 
when  Christianity  supplanted  heathen  worship  the  custom  was  carried  on 
until  now  the  holly  is  associated  with  Christmas  festivals. 

Many  superstitions  are  connected  with  the  use  of  holly  at  Christmas 
chiefly  on  account  of  its  leaves.  The  upper  leaves  on  the  tree  tend  to  lose 
their  prickles,  which  are  abundant  on  the  lower  leaves  as  a  protection  against 
browsing  animals.  In  the  north  of  England  the  prickly  leaves  are  known  as 
"He-Holly,"  and  the  smooth  leaves  as  "She-Holly."  It  is  popularly  believed 

(77) 


that  if  the  "He-Holly"  is  brought  first  into  the  house  on  Christmas  eve  the 
husband  will  be  master  throughout  the  year,  but  if  the  "She-Holly"  comes 
first  then  the  wife  will  run  the  household. 

On  Christmas  Eve  tiny  pieces  of  lighted  candle  are  placed  on  holly  leaves, 
which  are  set  to  float  in  a  tub  of  water.  Each  leaf  represents  some  person, 
who  gives  it  a  wish.  If  the  leaf  remains  afloat  it  is  believed  the  wish  will  be 
gratified.  If  it  sinks,  the  wish  will  not  be  fulfilled. 

ENGLISH  HOLLY 

The  English  holly  (Ilex  aquifolium)  is  a  small  tree  rarely  exceeding  forty 
feet  in  height.  It  is  frequently  planted  to  form  a  dense  prickly  hedge,  and  it 
is  said  that  Peter  the  Great  worked  off  some  of  his  spare  energy  running  a  wheel 
barrow  through  such  a  hedge. 

As  a  tree  the  holly  is  picturesque  with  its  dark-green  leaves,  which  form 
a  contrast  with  the  bright  greens  of  surrounding  trees  in  summer  and  the 
leafless  branches  in  winter.  It  had  a  joyful  effect  on  Shakespeare,  who  wrote: 

"Heigh- Ho!  the  green  Holly! 
This  life  is  most  jolly." 

Holly  has  a  slow  growth  and  thrives  best  in  deep,  rich  soils  where  there 
is  plenty  of  shade  and  moisture.  Its  great  shade-endurance  fits  it  for  under 
planting  or  for  grouping  with  other  evergreen  foliage. 

A  row  of  holly  trees  planted  for  ornament  around  two  sides  of  a  large  lot 
in  Portland,  Oregon,  some  years  ago,  has  yielded  Christmas  decorations  to  the 
value  of  over  $500  per  year  for  the  last  two  years  without  injuring  the  trees. 

HORSE  CHESTNUT 

I  he  horse  chestnut  (Aesculus  hippocastanum)  is  thought  to  have  come 
originally  from  the  mountains  of  Greece.  It  is  largely  planted  in  all  countries 
with  temperate  climates  and  makes  a  sturdy  tree  of  strong  growth.  It  has  a 
roundish  outline  and  a  somewhat  coarse  branch  habit  with  the  tips  of  the 
branches  peculiarly  curved  upward.  The  tree  reaches  a  height  of  about 
eighty  feet  and  has  a  smooth  cylindrical  bole  which  rarely  exceeds  two  feet  in 
diameter. 

(78) 


Plate   63.      HYMENOSPORUM.      Los   Angeles. 
An    Australian   tree   the   branches   of  which   are   laden   in   spring   with   jasmine-scented   yellow   flowers. 


A    native    of    Brazil    which    does   well    in    subtropical    regions. 
bignonia-like   flowers. 


Plate   64.     JACARANDA.      San   Diego. 

It     has     finely     cut     fern-like     foliage     and     large     blue 


In  the  spring  the  large  chocolate-colored  buds  begin  to  swell  and  the 
varnished  coats  that  protected  them  during  the  winter  soften.  First  one 
pair  and  then  another  pair  of  delicate  green  leaflets  make  their  appearance. 

"When  drooping  chestnut  buds  began 
To  spread  into  the  perfect  fan." 

Finally  there  is  a  dense  foliage  of  leaves,  each  composed  of  seven  leaflets 
arranged  in  a  palmate  manner,  each  broad  at  the  outer  end  and  tapering 
towards  the  point  of  their  insertion  on  their  common  leaf-stalk.. 

Just  as  the  leaves  are  spreading  themselves  out  of  the  terminal  buds, 
the  large  flower  spikes  rise  between  the  last  pair.  When  in  full  flower  the  tree 
has  been  called  the  "Giant's  Nosegay,"  while  the  children  think  of  it  as  a  huge 
Christmas  tree  covered  with  white  tapers. 

In  the  fall  the  leaves  become  bronzed  and  fall,  leaving  horse-shoe  like 
scars,  nail  marks  and  all,  on  the  branches.  The  large  polished  brown  seeds 
which  are  wrapped  in  leathery  overcoats  on  the  tree  are  not  good  to  eat,  but 
children  value  them  for  their  games.  It  is  said  that  the  Turks  pounded  them 
up  and  fed  them  to  their  horses  to  improve  their  wind. 

The  horse  chestnut  has  been  successfully  planted  on  California  city  streets, 
particularly  in  Hay  ward.  It  has  been  a  favorite  tree  for  avenues  and  parks 
in  Europe  for  centuries,  one  of  the  finest  avenues  in  the  world  being  in  Bushey 
Park,  near  London.  Five  rows  of  the  trees  stand  on  either  side  of  the  avenue 
and  when  they  are  in  bloom  they  afford  a  superb  sight,  "a  pyramid  of  green 
supporting  a  thousand  pyramids  of  white."  There  are  over  17,000  horse 
chestnut  trees  on  the  streets  of  Paris.  Their  main  objection  is  the  continual 
dropping  that  takes  place  throughout  the  year,  either  of  leaves,  flowers,  or 
nuts. 

HYMENOSPORUM 

The  Hymenosporum  (Hymenosporum  flavum)  is  an  Australian  evergreen 
tree  or  shrub  which  is  closely  related  to  the  Pittosporums,  but  which  excels 
them  in  many  particulars.  It  has  a  pyramidal  growth  with  drooping  branches 
which  are  laden  in  spring  with  a  profusion  of  jasmine  shaped  and  jasmine 
scented  yellow  flowers.  It  is  a  free  bloomer  over  a  long  period.  The  leaves 
are  smooth,  glossy  and  light-green  in  color. 

(79) 


This  tree  has  a  rapid  growth  and  its  shape  well  adapts  it  for  street  and 
garden  planting.  It  is  not  particular  about  quality  of  soil,  but  needs  a  moderate 
amount  of  moisture.  At  present  it  is  quite  rare,  but  its  many  good  qualities 
make  it  deserve  more  extensive  planting.  Under  favorable  conditions  it 
attains  a  height  of  about  fifty  feet.  It  cannot  stand  much  frost,  however, 
which  does  not  recommend  it  for  the  interior  valleys. 

JACARANDA 

The  jacaranda  (Jacaranda  ovalifolia)  is  a  native  of  Brazil  which  does 
well  in  subtropical  regions.  It  reaches  a  height  of  about  fifty  feet  and  com 
mands  attention  in  the  early  summer  by  its  profusion  of  large  blue  panicles 
of  bignonia-like  flowers  and  finely  cut  fern-like  foliage.  The  shape  of  the 
tree  is  apt  to  be  straggling  unless  it  is  carefully  pruned. 

This  tree  is  used  on  the  streets  of  Santa  Barbara  and  Pasadena  with  good 
effect.  It  is  too  tender  for  regions  of  severe  frost,  and  thrives  best  in  warmer 
situations  sheltered  from  strong  winds. 

JERUSALEM  THORN 

The  Jerusalem  thorn  (Parkinsonia  aculeata)  takes  its  generic  name 
after  John  Parkinson,  an  English  botanical  author  and  herbalist  to  James  I. 
It  grows  naturally  in  Texas,  Arizona  and  Mexico  and  is  cultivated  in  many 
warm  countries  as  an  ornamental  small  tree  and  to  form  hedges. 

It  is  a  thorny  evergreen  tree  with  feathery  drooping  branches  and  fra 
grant  yellow  flowers  borne  on  racemes.  It  reaches  a  height  of  about  fifteen 
feet  under  cultivation,  the  pendulous  branches  forming  a  wide,  graceful 
head.  The  pods,  commonly  known  as  horse  beans,  which  are  constricted 
between  the  seeds,  hang  in  graceful  racemes  from  the  tree. 

This  tree,  which  belongs  to  the  same  tribe  as  the  honey  locust,  will  thrive 
in  the  driest  soil  and  can  endure  considerable  cold. 

EUROPEAN  LAUREL 

The  European  laurel,  commonly  known  as  the  sweet  bay,  was  regarded 
by  ancient  peoples  as  an  emblem  of  truth  and  it  was  forbidden  to  put  it  to 
any  profane  use.  It  was  a  favorite  tree  of  poets  and  scholars,  and  graduates 

(80) 


of  universities  were  known  as  "laureates"  because  of  the  wreaths  of  laurel 
with  which  they  were  crowned. 

A  Greek  myth  relates  that  Apollo,  after  slaying  the  Python,  fled  for  puri 
fication  to  the  laurel  groves  of  the  vale  of  Tempe.  While  here  he  fell  in  love 
with  the  nymph  Daphne  who  fled  from  him.  She  prayed  for  deliverance  to 
her  mother  Earth,  who  heard  her  and  opened  the  ground  so  that  she  might 
hide.  On  this  spot  there  sprang  up  a  laurel  tree  which  Apollo  declared  to  be 
sacred.  Afterwards  when  he  instituted  the  Pythian  games  at  Delphi  to  com 
memorate  his  victory  over  Python,  the  prizes  awarded  the  victors  were  made 
from  the  leaves  and  berries  of  the  laurel. 

An  English  writer  writes  about  the  laurel  as  follows : 

"The  sweet  bay  bush  in  the  farmer's  or  cottage  garden  comes  with 
its  story  from  the  streams  of  Greece,  where  it  seeks  moisture  in  a  thirsty 
land  along  with  -the  wild  olive  and  the  arbutus.  And  this  sweet  bay  is 
the  laurel  of  the  poets,  of  the  first  and  greatest  of  all  poet  and  artist 
nations  of  the  earth — the  laurel  sacred  to  Apollo,  and  used  in  many 
ways  in  his  worship,  as  we  may  see  on  coins,  and  in  many  other  things 
that  remain  to  us  of  the  great  peoples  of  the  past." 

The  Romans  believed  that  the  laurel  afforded  protection  against  lightning, 
and  the  Emperor  Tiberius,  when  it  thundered,  wore  a  laurel  wreath  made 
from  the  tree  at  the  imperial  villa  on  the  Flaminian  Way. 

There  are  only  two  species  of  the  genus  Laurus,  one  native  to  the  Mediter 
ranean  region  and  one  to  the  Canary  Islands.  The  Sweet  Bay  (Laurus  no- 
bilis)  reaches  a  height  of  from  forty  to  sixty  feet.  It  branches  close  to  the 
ground  and  bears  dark  green,  oblong  leaves  which  give  a  heavy  shade. 

The  laurel  is  most  commonly  grown  as  a  tub  plant,  with  which  to  decorate 
porches  and  formal  gardens.  The  head  can  be  trimmed  to  any  shape  desired, 
which  makes  the  tree  in  demand  by  architects  for  the  proper  setting  of  their 
building  designs.  The  trees  will  do  well  in  the  open  since  they  stand  consider 
able  frost  and  heat. 

EUROPEAN  LINDEN 

The  European  linden  (Tilia  europea),  which  is  a  celebrated  street  tree 
of  Europe,  is  similar  to'the  American  basswood,  but  has  smaller,  deeper  green 
leaves  and  red  or  yellow  branches.  This  tree  is  commonly  called  "Lime  Tree," 

6—11898  (  81  ) 


which  name  was  derived  from  the  old  English  word  "lyne"  meaning  pliant, 
in  reference  to  the  tough  fibres  of  the  inner  bark  which  furnished  the  bast  of 
gardeners. 

The  linden  is  a  stately  tree  with  heart-shaped  leaves  which  led  the  poet 
Heine  to  say : 

"Therefore  are  the  lindens  ever 
Chosen  seats  of  each  fond  lover." 

A  striking  feature  of  the  tree  is  the  downward  droop  of  the  buds  which 
affords  better  protection  for  the  young  and  tender  leaves.  The  trees  are 
straight-stemmed  with  smooth  bark  and  when  fully  developed  are  from 
eighty  to  ninety  feet  in  height.  Germany  is  noted  for  its  lindens,  one  of  the 
most  famous  being  a  tree  nine  feet  in  diameter  at  Xeustaclt  in  Winternberg 
and  which  gave  it  the  name  of  "Neustadt  an  cler  grossen  Linden." 

The  flowers  are  yellowish-green  and  very  fragrant,  which  makes  them 
attractive  to  bees.  The  flowers  are  followed  by  small  berries,  which  are  often 
conspicuous  because  of  the  peculiar  blade-like  structure  from  which  they 
grow,  which  aids  in  their  distribution  by  the  wind. 

Mythology  has  a  story  to  account  for  the  existence  of  the  linden.  It  is 
'related  that  an  aged  shepherd  and  his  wife  once  entertained  Jupiter  and 
Mercury  unawares.  When  their  guests  declared  themselves,  the  aged  couple 
were  asked  to  claim  a  reward  and  they  chose  that  they  should  each  become  a 
verdant  linden.  Hence,  the  linden  has  become  the  symbol  of  wedded  love. 

Lindens  were  extensively  planted  in  1660  in  England  at  the  instigation  of 
John  Evelyn,  who  said  "Is  there  a  more  ravishing  or  delightful  object  than  to 
behold  some  entire  streets  and  whole  towns  planted  with  these  trees  in  even 
lines  before  their  doors,  so  that  they  seem  like  cities  in  a  wood?" 

Luther  Burbank  regards  the  linden  as  one  of  the  best  trees  to  plant  in 
the  coast  region.  In  the  interior  valleys,  it  does  not  do  well  because  of  the 
high  temperatures  which  sometimes  prevail. 

MADRONA 

Madrona  (Arbutus  menziesii)  is  a  handsome  native  tree  which  belongs  to 
an  ancient  genus  frequently  mentioned  by  the  classical  writers  of  Greece 
and  Italy.  Theophrastus  describes  the  strawberry  tree  (Arbutus  unedo)  as  a 
tree  possessing  an  edible  fruit  like  unto  a  strawberry,  a  smooth  bark,  and  a 

(82) 


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Plate   66.     JERUSALEM    THORN.      Pasadena. 
A    thorny    evergreen    tree    with    feathery    drooping    branc'.ies    and    fragrant    yellow    flowers. 


leaf  intermediate  between  the  oak  and  the  bay  laurel.  Each  blossom,  he  says, 
equals  in  size  and  form  a  long  myrtle  blossom,  so  that  it  is  formed  like  an  egg 
shell  cut  in  half.  Ovid  celebrates  its  loads  of  "blushing  fruit,"  and  Horace,  in 
his  first  Ode,  expresses  his  delight  in  lying  with  limbs  stretched  beneath  a  green 
arbutus. 

The  madrona  of  California  was  given  its  name  by  the  Spanish  Cali- 
fornians  after  the  arbute  tree  of  Spain  which  they  knew  as  madrona.  It  was 
first  collected  in  1791  by  Menzies,  and  was  one  of  the  first  Pacific  Coast  trees 
to  be  described  by  botanists. 

Madrona  is  widely  distributed  in  the  coast  mountains,  and  occurs  on  the 
west  slopes  of  the  Sierras,  and  in  the  San  Bernardino  Mountains.  On  the  north 
coast,  where  it  reaches  a  height  of  125  feet  and  a  diameter  of  four  feet,  it  is 
found  on  the  slopes  with  redwood,  Douglas  fir,  tan  oak  and  black  oak.  The 
beauty  of  its  foliage,  flowers,  and  trunk  are  sources  of  never-failing  interest  to 
the  traveler. 

The  madrona  is  very  little  known  to  cultivation  but  should  make  a 
strong  appeal  to  Californians.  Professor  W.  L.  Jepson  of  the  University  of 
California  speaks  of  it  as  follows: 

"That  madrona  has  thus  far  no  place  in  California  gardens  is 
partly  to  be  explained  by  the  unhappy  preference  for  exotics  and  be 
cause  the  tree  as  it  grows  in  its  native  woods  is  little  known  to  the 
people.  For  beyond  any  peradventure  of  doubt  it  is  the  most  handsome 
tree  in  California  and  enlivens  the  forest  and  groves  with  its  unrivaled 
woodland  colors.  Of  slight  economic  importance  as  a  timber  species, 
it  is  in  every  other,  way  a  notable  tree.  Its  crown  of  flowers  and  masses 
of  crimson  berries,  its  burnished  foliage  and  terra-cotta  bark,  its  manner 
of  branching  and  habits  of  growth  are  alike  full  of  interest  and  of 
charm.' 

MAGNOLIAS 

The  magnolias,  which  belong  to  a  family  of  very  ancient  lineage,  are 
widely  distributed,  species  being  found  in  the  Himalayas,  China,  Central 
America  and  southeastern  United  States.  The  genus  is  named  in  honor  of 
Pierre  Magnol,  professor  of  botany  at  Montpellier  in  France. 

There  are  seven  species  of  magnolia  in  southeastern  United  States,  several 
of  them  being  timber  trees  of  consequence.  They  flourish  in  rich,  moist  soil 

(83) 


along  rivers  and  swamps,  and  command  attention  by  their  large,  showy  flowers 
and  glossy  green  leaves  clustered  on  the  ends  of  the  branches.  Some  of  the 
species  keep  their  leaves  throughout  the  year,  while  others  are  deciduous. 
The  branch  habit  is  generally  open  and  straggling,  although  some  species  have 
shapely  outlines.  Magnolias  stand  some  frost,  but  long  periods  of  severe 
cold  are  detrimental. 

There  formerly  stood  near  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  a  stately  magnolia 
which  was  known  as  the  Magnolia  Council  Tree.  It  was  under  this  tree  in 
1780  that  council  was  taken  with  the  people  of  Charleston  by  General  Lincoln 
They  were  told  that  the  enemy  had  been  strongly  reenforced  and  that  further 
defence  of  the  city  seemed  hopeless.  He  was  prevailed  upon  to  stay,  but  was 
forced  to  surrender  three  weeks  later.  This  tree  was  felled  in  1849  by  a  farmer 
for  firewood. 

LAUREL-LEAVED  MAGNOLIA 

The  laurel-leaved  magnolia  (Magnolia  grand  iflora).  also  called  Bull 
Bay,  is  a  well  known  tree  of  splendid  appearance  which  is  widely  known  as 
an  ornamental  tree.  It  is  the  most  magnificent  of  the  broad-leaved  ever 
greens  of  the  Southern  States,  where  it  reaches  a  height  of  eighty  feet.  The 
growth  is  slow  but  erect,  and  at  maturity  the  crown  reaches  such  a  size  as  to 
render  the  tree  suitable  only  for  wide  streets,  even  though  for  years,  owing  to 
its  slow  growth,  it  may  appear  to  be  inadequate.  The  chief  drawback  to  its 
use  for  street  and  avenue  planting  is  the  continuous  litter  which  it  makes. 

The  laurel-leaved  magnolia  has  large,  leathery,  glossy,  green  leaves  which 
form  a  heavy  mantle  throughout  the  year.  The  great  attraction  of  the  tree 
is  its  lemon-scented  waxen  white  flowers  which  are  six  to  ten  inches  broad. 
In  the  spring  this  magnolia  presents  a  striking  picture  with  its  many  hundreds 
of  these  showy  flowers.  Just  before  the  bud  matures  to  a  perfect  flower  it  has  a 
beautiful  oval  figure  resembling  a  half  opened  rosebud.  In  a  few  hours  the  large 
petals  unfold  into  a  flower  in  the  center  of  which  is  a  small  cone  of  delicate 
green  shade.  No  bloom  of  any  tree  is  so  large  and  fragrant,  yet  so  delicate 
and  beautiful.  After  the  flowers  are  gone  a  cone  develops  with  seeds  the  size 
and  shape  of  beans.  A  perfume  is  made  from  these  seeds  which  possesses 
the  same  sweet,  delicate  scent  as  the  flower. 

(84) 


Plate   67.     JUNIPER.      Sacramento. 
An  evergreen   tree   with   very  glaucous  foliage.     Although  it  is  a  conifer,  yet  it  does  not  bear  cones,   but  berry-like  fruits. 


Plate   68.      EUROPEAN    LAUREL.      Sacramento. 

the    nnrJ*6'  n?*?    '"    ^"I    ''T*    Were    believe(1    <°    communicate    the    spirit    of    poetry 
ie   poets   and    of   puttmg    laurel    leaves   under    one's    pillow   to    acquire    inspiration. 


Hence    the    custom    of    crowning 


CHINESE  MAGNOLIAS 

The  Chinese  magnolias  are  deciduous  and  have  entirely  different  habits 
than  the  evergreen  magnolias.  They  are  shrublike  in  character,  and  are 
prized  for  the  profusion  and  beauty  of  their  early  flowers.  The  buds  form  in 
the  fall  and  open  in  the  early  spring  before  the  leaves  appear.  There  are 
many  species  and  varieties,  varying  chiefly  in  color  and  size  of  the  flower. 

Wherever  magnolia  is  planted  care  should  be  taken  to  supply  it  with  an 
abundance  of  water;  otherwise,  the  foliage  will  lose  its  richness  of  color  and 
the  growth  will  be  perceptibly  retarded. 

MAPLES 

Acer,  the  scientific  name  of  the  maple  family,  means  hard  or  sharp,  and 
was  given  to  the  maple  by  the  ancients  because  of  its  hard  wood  which  they 
prized  for  making  their  weapons. 

One  of  the  maples  is  called  Sycamore  in  England.  This  name  arose  from 
the  practice  of  using  the  tree  in  mystery  plays  in  the  Middle  Ages  to  represent 
the  true  sycamore  which  Zacchaeus  climbed  to  see  Christ  at  the  time  of  his 
triumphal  entry  into  Jerusalem. 

Virgil  celebrates  the  maple  as  the  throne  on  which  Evander  seated  Aeneas : 

"On  sods  of  turf  he  sat  the  soldiers  round  ; 
A  maple  throne,  raised  high  above  the  ground 
Received  the  Trojan  chief;  and,  o'er  the  bed, 
A  lion's  shaggy  hide  for  ornament  they  spread." 

The  maples  embrace  sixty  to  seventy  species  of  large,  medium  and  small 
sized  trees.  They  have  a  wide  range  and  are  adaptive  to  a  variety  of  soils. 
The  flowers  are  small  but  are  attractive  in  early  flowering  species  since  they 
appear  in  great  profusion  in  the  form  of  drooping  clusters.  The  foliage  has  a 
pleasing  diversity  of  shape  and  color,  generally  turning  into  brilliant  tints  in 
the  autumn.  Tennyson  describes  the  maple  as  burning  itself  away  until  all 
the  woodside  glows  in  the  fitful  sunshine  like  dead  gold. 

In  some  species  the  young  fruits  which  have  two  seeds  joined,  Siamese- 
twin  fashion,  assume  a  deep  red  color  which  led  Emerson  to  say : 

"The  scarlet  maple  keys  betray 
What  potent  blood  hath  modest  May." 

(85) 


Perhaps  the  red  and  scarlet  coloring  of  the  maples  has  something  to  do 
with  the  name  "Grief  Trees"  given  to  certain  trees  in  the  West  of  Scotland, 
but  more  particularly  because  it  was  on  these  trees  that  the  barons  used  to 
hang  their  enemies. 

The  maples  are  valuable  trees  for  park  and  street  planting.  The  ma 
jority  have  an  upright  habit,  make  rapid  growth  and  are  little  subject  to 
insect  attacks.  They  do  not  flourish,  however,  under  arid  conditions. 

SUGAR  MAPLE 

The  sugar  maple  (Acer  saccharum)  which  has  a  natural  range  from 
Newfoundland  to  Georgia,  and  westward  to  Manitoba  and  Texas,  is  a  hardy, 
erect  tree  of  symmetrical  habit.  In  the  forest  it  rises  to  sixty  or  seventy  feet 
without  a  branch.  In  the  open  it  develops  stout,  upright  branches  about 
ten  feet  from  the  ground  which  form  a  narrow  head  while  the  tree  is  young. 
Old  trees  have  broad,  round-topped  crowns  which  cast  a  dense  shade. 

Sugar  maple  requires  a  cool  climate  and  abundant  moisture  for  its  best 
development.  Unfortunately  it  is  apt  not  to  thrive  in  cities  because  of  its  exact 
ing  requirements,  and  the  sensitiveness  of  its  foliage  to  dust  and  smoke.  It 
should  do  well  in  the  northern  part  of  California  as  a  roadside  tree  for  which  it 
is  desirable  because  of  its  fine  foliage  and  long  life.  The  winter  condition  of 
the  sugar  maple  is  especially  striking  when  the  erect,  shapely  outline  of  the 
tree  is  clearly  brought  out  with  the  twigs  and  branches  forming  a  fine  network 
against  the  sky. 

BIG-LEAF  MAPLE 

The  big-leaf  maple  (Acer  macro  fohyllum),  often  called  Oregon  maple,  is 
a  native  tree  which  is  widely  distributed  along  the  streams  and  creeks  in  the 
Coast  ranges  from  southern  California  to  southeastern  Alaska.  It  is  also 
found  in  the  Sierra  Nevadas  along  streams  at  elevations  ranging  from  2000 
to  5000  feet. 

The  big-leaf  maple  was  first  collected  by  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition 
in  1805  at  the  great  rapids  of  the  Columbia  River.  Its  wood  was  used  by  the 
Indians  for  boat  paddles,  and  the  twigs  were  valued  as  medicine  to  bring 
riches.  The  beauty  of  the  tree  was  early  appreciated,  and  it  is  probably  more 
widely  planted  as  a  street  and  ornamental  tree  on  the  Pacific  Coast  than  any 
other  maple. 

(86) 


Plate   69.      EUROPEAN    LINDEN.     Del    Monte. 

"Here   a    linden   tree   stood,   bright'ning 
all    adown    its    silver    rind." 

—  Browning. 


Plate  70.     BLACK    LOCUST.      Merced. 

A  tree  native  to  Eastern  United  States  which  is  known  in    Eurooe   as   the   false    araria 
the    true   acacias.      It    is    hardy    over    a    w.de    range    of    soil    and   mo°sture  conditions. 


r 

'   °f   US   resemblance    <° 


Strikingly  characteristic  of  the  tree  are  its  dark-green,  deeply'jobed  leaves 
which  are  roundish  in  outline  and  from  three  to  twelve  inches  broad.  The 
young  branches  are  bluish  and  rather  stout  in  appearance.  Big-leaf  maple 
has  an  average  height  of  sixty-five  feet  at  maturity,  grows  rapidly,  and  is  well 
adapted  for  street  planting.  In  Berkeley  it  has  done  remarkably  well,  par 
ticularly  on  Piedmont  avenue.  It  has  also  been  successfully  planted  as  a 
park  tree  in  southern  California.  Because  of  its  broad  head,  it  needs  con 
siderable  space  for  development. 

NORWAY  MAPLE 

The  Norway  maple  (Acer  jplatanoides)  has  not  been  thoroughly  tried  out 
in  California,  but  should  do  well  in  sections  of  the  state  where  it  will  not  be 
subjected  to  high  temperatures  and  arid  conditions. 

Norway  maple  came  from  Europe,  where  it  withstands  city  conditions 
well,  and  seems  to  have  remarkable  resistance  to  insect  attacks.  Its  symmetri 
cal,  somewhat  drooping  shape,  attractive  yellow  flowers,  its  broad  dark-green 
foliage,  turning  to  brilliant  golden  yellow  in  late  autumn,  makes  it  an  attrac 
tive  tree  the  year  round.  The  growth  is  compact  and  vigorous,  and  it  will 
thrive  in  almost  any  soil.  It  has  a  rich  appearance,  and  a  long  leaf  period, 
which  makes  it  attractive  on  a  street  where  other  deciduous  trees  begin  to 
show  the  waning  of  summer. 

MAYTEN 

The  may  ten  (Maytenus  boaria)  is  a  graceful  evergreen  tree  from  Chile 
which  does  especially  well  along  the  coast  and  in  southern  California.  It  is  a 
slender  tree,  rarely  exceeding  thirty  feet  in  height,  with  delicate  smilax-like 
foliage,  which  is  effectively  used  for  interior  decorations.  The  flowers  are 
small  and  greenish  and  the  fruit  scarlet. 

The  rounded  top,  pendent  twigs,  and_  graceful  habit  of  this  tree  har 
monizes  well  with  other  shrubs  and  trees  on  lawns.  It  has  been  little  used 
as  a  street  tree,  but  should  prove  useful  on  wide  streets  where  evergreens  are 
desired.  There  is  a  tendency  for  the  central  shaft  to  divide  into  several 
branches,  but  this  may  be  remedied  by  pruning. 

(87) 


MULBERRY 

The  mulberry  is  largely  cultivated  in  many  countries  for  its  leaves  which 
are  the  best  food  for  the  silk-worm.  The  white  mulberry  (Moms  alba)  is  a 
native  of  northern  China  and  Japan,  and  the  black  mulberry  (Moms  nigra) 
probably  had  its  origin  in  Persia. 

There  is  an  interesting  myth  which  accounts  for  the  color  of  the  fruit  of 
the  mulberry.  Ovid  relates  that  Thisbe  was  pursued  by  a  lioness  whose  mouth 
was  bloody  from  the  recent  slaughter  of  an  ox.  Pyramus,  her  lover,  coming 
to  the  rendezvous  and  finding  her  blood-stained  garments,  thought  her  dead 
and  killed  himself  at  the  foot  of  a  mulberry  tree;  and  Thisbe,  returning,  did 
the  same.  The  poet  states  that  the  fruit  of  the  tree  till  then  was  snow  white, 
but  when  the  lovers'  blood  flowed  over  its  roots  and  was  absorbed  into  the 
sap,  the  fruit  took  on  a  sable  hue. 

The  Israelites  regarded  the  mulberry  as  a  medium  of  communication 
between  God  and  'man.  David,  when  he  inquired  of  the  Lord  how  and  when 
he  should  attack  the  Philistines,  was  told : 

"Thou  shall  not  go  up;  but  fetch  a  compass  behind  them,  and 
come  upon  them  over  against  the  mulberry  trees.  And  let  it  be,  when 
thou  hearest  the  sound  of  a  going  in  the  tops  of  the  mulberry  trees, 
that' then  thou  shalt  bestir  thyself;  for  then  shall  the  Lord  go  out 
before  thee,  to  smite  the  host  of  the  Philistines." 

A  famous  old  mulberry  tree  in  North  London,  under  which  144  years 
ago  it  is  said  the  American  Declaration  of  Independence  was  first  read  in 
England,  recently  fell  under  the  weight  of  its  age.  American  Boy  Scouts 
attending  the  Industrial  Scout  Conference  recently  held  in  London,  visited 
the  tree  a  few  days  before  it  fell  and  were  told  its  history  beneath  its  branches. 

The  red  mulberry  (Morus  rubra),  which  is  native  to  Eastern  United 
States,  is  planted  to  some  extent  as  a  shade  tree  in  Calfiornia.  It  grows  to  a 
height  of  about  sixty  feet,  and  has  a  wide-spreading  habit.  It  furnishes  abun 
dant  shade  in  a  comparatively  short  time,  but  the  litter  made  by  the  fruit 
makes  it  objectionable  as  a  street  tree.  Its  value  as  a  highway  tree  is  also 
questionable  because  of  its  irregular  tendency  of  growth. 

(88) 


Plate   71.      HONEY    LOCUST.      Visalia. 
An   Appalachian   tree  with   finely-divided  foliage,   sharp  thorns  and  fragrant  greenish  flowers  followed  by  large  brown  pods. 


'.  -L»Mij 

^'    .  iV 

~   ' 


!     Jr   Tt-: 

'7  *. 


Plate   73.      MADRONA.      Sacramento. 

"Captain  of  the  western  wood, 
Thou  that  apest  Robin  Hood! 
Green  above  thy  scarlet  hose, 
How  thy  velvet  mantle  shows: 
Never  tree  like  thee  arrayed, 
O  thou  gallant  of  the  glade." 

— Bret   Harte. 


Plate   74.      BULL     BAY     MAGNOLIA.      Sacramento. 
A    beautiful    tree    from    the    Southern    States    which    lines   many   stretts   and   avenues   in    Califoinij 


OAKS 

The  oaks,  which  belong  to  the  genus  Quercus,  embrace  about  300  species 
which  are  distributed  through  the  colder  and  temperate  regions  of  the  northern 
hemisphere  and  in  the  mountains  of  the  tropics.  They  include  both  evergreen 
and  deciduous  trees  and  as  a  rule  are  of  a  stately  habit  with  stout,  wide- 
spreading  branches.  The  leaves  are  medium  sized  usually  more  or  less  lobed. 
The  fruit  is  a  globular  to  oblong  acorn  set  in  a  scaly  cup. 

The  oak  stands  as  a  symbol  of  strength  and  endurance,  and  in  England, 
particularly,  is  associated  with  the  triumphs  of  Englishmen  with  "hearts  of 
oak."  In  the  days  of  old,  the  oak  was  closely  associated  with  the  worship  of 
the  gods  and  known  as  "Jove's  own  tree."  The  oak  of  Zeus  at  Dondona  was 
believed  to  be  the  actual  seat  of  the  god  whose  oracular  answers  were  given 
by  the  rustling  of  the  winds  through  leaves  and  branches,  by  the  murmur  of 
the  spring  that  flowed  out  from  among  its  roots,  or  by  lots  drawn  from  an  urn 
placed  beneath  it. 

In  Old  Testament  times  Isaiah  rebuked  the  Israelites  for  their  idols  under 
"every  thick  oak."  It  was  "under  the  oak  which  was  in  Ophrah"  that  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  came  and  sat,  and  spoke  to  Gideon,  telling  him  that  it  was 
he  who  was  to  save  Israel  from  the  hands  of  the  Midianites.  Jehovah  ap 
peared  to  Abraham  beneath  the  oak  tree  in  Mamre.  At  Shechem  Joshua 
"took  a  great  stone,  and  set  it  up  there  under  an  oak,  that  was  by  the  Sanctuary 
of  the  Lord. 

In  mediaeval  times  the  oak  was  held  as  a  sacred  tree  and  it  was  thought 
that  a  cross  cut  in  its  bark  was  a  special  protection  against  man  and  elfin 
enemies.  The  predominance  of  oaks  is  noticeable  in  reading  of  Britain's 
famous  trees.  This  is  due  to  their  abundance  and  the  special  reverence  with 
which  they  were  held  by  the  Druids,  who  cut  sacred  mistletoe  from  them  with 
golden  knives. 

A  famous  English  oak  is  the  King's  Oak  at  Woodstock,  where  it  stands 
on  the  former  hunting  grounds. of  Henry  II.  It  was  under  the  Parliament 
Oak  at  Clipstone  Park  that  Edward  I  is  alleged  to  have  once  convened  a 
national  assembly.  An  arrow  glancing  from  an  oak  trunk  caused  the  death  of 
one  English  king  Oak  was  used  by  the  Northmen  to  build  their  long  ships, 
and  went  into  many  enduring  structures  built  by  the  Anglo-Saxons.  In  the 
"Faerie  Queen"  Spenser  speaks  of  "the  builder  oak,  sole  king  of  forests  all." 

(89) 


The  oaks  are  closely  linked  with  American  history.  On  the  banks  of  the 
river  Osamece  in  Santo  Domingo  is  an  oak  which  is  traditionally  known  as  the 
tree  to  which  Columbus  tied  his  ship  when  he  founded  the  colony  "Hispaniola." 
The  "Charter  Oak"  at  Hartford,  which  fell  in  1856,  concealed  the  charter  of 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  a  large  cavity  in  its  trunk  until  James  II,  who 
demanded  it,  was  driven  from  the  English  throne.  A  large  black  oak  stands 
near  Haverstraw,  New  York,  under  which  it  is  said  "Mad"  Anthony  Wayne 
mustered  his  men  in  preparation  for  his  brilliant  charge  on  Stony  Point.  In 
the  Friends'  Cemetery  at  Salem,  New  Jersey,  stands  a  massive  oak  the 
branches  of  which  cover  a  quarter  of  an  acre.  Under  it  the  soldiers  of  Wash 
ington's  Continental  Army  were  drilled  in  Revolutionary  days. 

Many  years  ago,  Senator  Charles  Sumner  sent  an  acorn  from  an  oak  which 
formerly  overshadowed  the  old  tomb  of  Washington  at  Mount  Vernon  to 
the  Czar  of  Russia.  This  was  planted  in  the  palace  grounds  at  Peterhof, 
and  grew  into  a  beautiful  oak  which  has  a  tablet  at  its  base  bearing  the  follow 
ing  inscription: 

"The  acorn  planted  here  was  taken  from  an  oak  which  shades  the 
tomb  of  the  celebrated  and  never-to-be-forgotten  Washington;  it  is 
presented  to  His  Imperial  Majesty,  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Russians,  as 
a  sign  of  the  greatest  respect,  by  an  American." 

Senator  Hitchcock  gathered  acorns  from  this  tree  and  sent  them  to 
Washington.  One  of  the  small  oaks  grown  from  these  acorns  was  planted  on 
April  6,  1904,  in  the  White  House  grounds  by  President  Roosevelt  and  is 
known  as  the  Russo-American  oak. 

The  city  of  Oakland,  California,  took  its  name  from  the  oaks  among  which 
it  was  originally  located.  A  few  years  ago,  an  oak  was  planted  in  the  plaza 
before  the  city  hall  in  memory  of  Jack  London,  who  was  a  native  of  Oakland. 

Oaks  are  excellent  street  and  ornamental  trees.  They  are  strong,  durable, 
beautiful  and  have  few  insect  enemies.  There  is  a  popular  notion  that  oaks 
are  slow  growing  trees,  but  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  some  oaks  make  as 
rapid  growth  as  hard  maple  and  other  trees  commonly  planted.  Some  of  the. 
finest  streets  in  Washington  are  planted  with  pin  oaks,  a  species  the  worth 
of  which  has  not  yet  been  sufficiently  recognized  in  this  state.  It  is  a  handsome 
tree  with  finely  divided  deciduous  foliage  that  takes  on  a  scarlet  and  yellow 

(50) 


Plate  75.     MAGNOLIA    BLOSSOM.     Sacramento. 

"Faint  was  the  air  with  the  odorous  breath 
of   magnolia    blossoms." 

— Longfellow. 


color  in  the  fall.  The  dense  branching  of  this  tree  causes  some  of  the  twigs  to 
die,  and  these  spurlike  projections  form  the  "pins"  which  give  the  tree  its 
common  name. 

Oaks  do  not  give  as  quick  results  as  some  species,  but  their  permanence, 
stability  and  individuality  recommend  them  for  planting  over  many  of  the 
expressionless,  quick-growing  trees  that  are  now  used.  On  account  of  their 
spreading  habit  and  irregular  outline  they  should  be  given  plenty  of  space  in 
which  to  develop. 

VALLEY  OAK 

Valley  oak  (Quercus  lobata),  also  known  as  weeping  oak  from  its  graceful 
drooping  sprays,  grows  naturally  only  in  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin 
valleys,  and  the  valleys  of  the  Sierra  foothills  and  Coast  ranges.  It  was 
discovered  in  1791  by  Spanish  naval  officers,  and  is  often  mentioned  in  the 
narratives  of  Fremont,  Vancouver  and  other  early  explorers  as  a  tree  of  graceful 
beauty. 

It  is  stated  by  an  early  traveler  that  the  Indians  along  the  Rio  Sacra 
mento  "have  a  very  pernicious  habit  of  lighting  their  fires  at  the  bases  of 
the  valley  oaks ;  and  as  they  naturally  select  the  largest,  it  was  really  a  sorrowful 
sight  to  behold  numbers  of  the  finest  trees  thus  prematurely  and  wantonly 
destroyed." 

The  most  famous  valley  oak  is  the  Hooker  Oak  at  Chico,  California, 
which  was  named  in  honor  of  Sir  Joseph  Hooker,  who  visited  the  tree  in  1877. 
According  to  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  7000  men  could  be  seated  in  the  shade  of 
this  tree  at  noon.  It  has  a  height  of  no  feet  and  a  circumference  of  over 
twenty-eight  feet.  This  tree  is  in  a  park  deeded  to  Chico  by  the  widow  of 
Gen.  John  Bidwell. 

The  leaves  of  the  valley  oak,  which  are  deciduous,  are  deeply  lobed. 
The  trunk  of  mature  trees  is  dark-brown  and  divided  by  longitudinal  fissures 
into  broad  flat  ridges,  broken  horizontally  into  short  plates.  The  tree  usually 
divides  twenty  or  thirty  feet  above  the  ground,  the  limbs  spreading  at  wide 
angles  and  forming  a  broad  head  of  slender  branches  hanging  gracefully  in 
long  sprays.  Valley  oak  does  best  on  soils  where  the  water  table  is  close  to 
the  surface.  It  is  a  native  species  which  deserves  a  place,  and  is  recom 
mended  for  planting  in  those  parts  of  the  state  where  it  is  one  of  the  dominant 

(91) 


features  of  the  landscape.  The  trees  should  be  planted  from  eighty  to  100  feet 
apart  to  allow  room  for  the  wide  spread  of  branches  in  later  life. 

CORK  OAK 

The  cork  oak  (Quercus  suber),  which  forms  extensive  forests  in  Spain, 
Portugal  and  other  sections  of  the  Mediterranean,  is  the  source  of  the  world's 
cork  supply.  The  bark  has  a  specialized  cork  tissue  which  produces  cork  at  a 
much  greater  rate  than  any  other  tree.  Cork  was  used  by  the  early  Greeks 
and  Romans  to  float  nets,  but  did  not  come  into  general  use  until  glass  bottles 
began  to  be  used  in  the  seventeenth  century. 

In  its  native  habitat,  cork  oak  grows -on  low  hills,  and  attains  its  greatest 
size  in  deep,  rather  moist  loam.  It  is  evergreen  in  character,  and  reaches  a 
height  of  sixty  feet  and  a  diameter  of  four  feet  in  the  best  situations.  In  1860 
acorns  of  the  cork  oak  were  planted  in  California,  and  from  them  came  trees 
which  have  reached  a  diameter  of  two  feet  and  a  height  of  forty  feet.  Cork 
oak  has  no  commercial  value  in  this  country,  but  makes  a  splendid  ornamental, 
street  or  highway  tree. 

A  number  of  fine  specimens  of  cork  oak  are  found  in  this  state.  They  have 
the  general  outline  of  the  native  live  oak,  except  that  the  leaves  are  more 
convex  in  shape.  As  the  tree  matures,  it  develops  a  corky  bark  which  covers 
the  trunk  with  large  fold-like  corky  excrescences.  Cork  oak  makes  a  sym 
metrical  tree  with  rounded  head,  and  when  planted  where  soil  and  moisture 
conditions  are  favorable,  makes  a  rapid  growth.  The  largest  cork  oak  in 
the  state  is  situated  at  Campo  Seco  in  Calaveras  County. 

COAST  LIVE  OAK 

Coast  live  oak  (Quercus  agrifolia),  also  known  as  holly  oak  from  the 
resemblance  of  its  leaves  to  those  of  the  holly,  is  a  native  tree  of  California  that 
is  found  in  the  Coast  ranges  from  Sonoma  County  to  Southern  California.  It 
is  a  characteristic  tree  of  the  coast  range  valleys  which  it  beautifies  with  low, 
broad  heads.  It  attracted  the  attention  of  the  early  Spanish  explorers  who 
associated  it  with  the  fertility  of  the  land.  This  is  evidenced  by  the  corre 
spondence  of  the  chain  of  Franciscan  missions  within  the  general  range  of 
this  oak. 

(92) 


Plate   77.      BIG-LEAF   MAPLE.      Berkeley. 

A  native  tree  that  flourishes  along  the  streams  and  creeks  in  the  Coast  Ranges.  Like  all  the  maples,  its  leaves 
change  color  in  the  fall.  It  is  said  that  the  maple  leaf  was  chosen  as  an  emblem  of  Canada  since  it  endures  the  frosts 
of  misfortune  with  added  color  and  beauty. 


Plate    78.      MAYTEN.      Berkeley. 
A  graceful  tree  from   Chile  of  an  upright  habit  of  growth  and  with  myrtle-like   leaves. 


California  is  justly  proud  of  its  oaks  and  there  is  none  more  beautiful  than 
the  Coast  live  oak.  It  is  a  hardy  tree,  from  fifty  to  seventy  feet  high  with  a  short 
trunk  parting  into  wide-spreading  limbs  which  often  touch  the  ground.  The 
trees  on  the  campus  of  the  University  of  California  are.  very  picturesque  and 
very  old.  Among  them  is  the  famous  Le  Conte  oak  which  was  dedicated  by 
the  students  to  the  memory  of  Joseph  and  John  Le  Conte,  distinguished 
as  scientists  and  beloved  as  teachers.  The  largest  known  Coast  live  oak  is 
found  in  the  Ojai  Valley  in  Ventura  County.  Its  crown  is  105  feet  across 
while  the  trunk  has  a  diameter  of  six  feet  and  eight  inches  at  five  feet  from  the 
ground. 

Coast  live  oak  is  well  adapted  for  a  street  or  highway  tree.  It  will  make  a 
good  growth  in  a  rich  loam  with  a  gravelly  subsoil  with  plenty  of  moisture  at 
the  roots.  In  poor  and  dry  soil  it  may  prove  a  disappointment  because  of  its 
slow  growth.  The  young  trees  should  be  from  four  to  five  years  old  with 
sturdy  root  systems  such  as  are  developed  in  a  nursery  from  several  trans- 
plantings.  Young  trees  taken  directly  from  their  native  habitat  will  not  do 
well. 

About  twelve  years  ago  live  oak  trees  were  planted  along  the  street  in 
front  of  Sutter's  Fort  in  Sacramento,  where  they  have  made  remarkable 

growth. 

BUR  OAK 

Bur  oak  (Quercus  macrocarpa),  often  called  mossy-cup  oak  from  the 
hairy  cup  of  the  acorn,  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  of  the  forest  trees  of 
Eastern  United  States.  It  is  a  wide  spreading  tree  with  corky  branches  and 
very  large,  deeply  lobed  leaves,  which  are  deciduous.  This  oak  has  not  been 
widely  planted  in  California,  but  should  do  well  in  the  interior  valleys,  judging 
from  the  beautiful  specimen  in  the  Capitol  Park  at  Sacramento. 

OLEANDER 

The  oleander  (Nerium  oleander),  is  an  old  fashioned  evergreen  shrub 
which  reaches  a  height  of  twenty  feet  or  more  in  California,  where  it  is  ex 
tensively  planted  for  ornamental  purposes  in  parkings  and  lawns.  There  are 
many  varieties,  the  blossoms  of  which  range  in  color  through  various  shades 
of  red,  pink,  white  and  yellow.  Unfortunately,  oleander  is  subject  to  black 
scale,  and  all  parts  are  poisonous  if  eaten.  In  spite  of  these  disadvantages, 

(93  ) 


however,  it  is  desired  by  many  on  account  of  the  beauty  and  fragrance  of  its 
blossoms.  It  can  be  planted  on  narrow  streets  where  shade  is  a  secondary 
consideration,  but  careful  pruning  is  necessary  to  overcome  its  straggling 
habit.  In  some  parts  of  the  state  it  is  used  to  alternate  with  the  Canary 
Island  date  palm. 

OLIVE 

The  olive  (Olea  europaea)  is  a  cultivated  species  that  has  been  developed 
from  the  wild  form  which  originated  in  Asia  Minor.  It  was  widely  cultivated 
by  the  Phoenicians,  Greeks  and  Romans.  In  Jerusalem  there  are  olive  trees 
standing  in  the  Garden  of  Gesthsemane  under  which  the  Savior  is  supposed 
to  have  walked  during  the  Night  of  Agony.  The  most  famous  of  these  trees 
was  named  "El  Butini"  and  a  tradition  has  long  been  held  that  when  it  fell 
the  Turkish  Empire  would  also  fall.  It  was  killed  in  1915,  when  an  unprec 
edented  plague  of  locusts  swept  down  upon  Jerusalem,  destroying  every 
green  thing  for  many  miles  around.  Recent  dispatches  state  that  this  tree 
has  now  fallen. 

The  olive  was  early  planted  at  the  missions  of  California  by  the  Franciscan 
padres,  and  from  the  trees  grown  there  came  a  variety  now  known  as  the 
Mission.  The  original  trees  were  grown  at  the  San  Diego  Mission  from  seeds 
brought  from  Mexico. 

The  olive  thrives  in  all  soils  provided  they  are  deep  and  well  drained. 
A  clear  dry  atmosphere  is  essential  else  the  tree  is  subject  to  the  attack  of  the 
black  scale.  As  a  shade  tree  it  is  not  satisfactory  since  the  shape  is  such 
that  it  is  very  difficult  to  head  it  so  that  it  will  give  any  shade.  As  an  orna 
mental  tree  it  has  desirable  features  on  account  of  its  distinctive  style  of 
growth,  gnarled  buttress  and  color  of  the  foliage.  It  rarely  exceeds  twenty- 
five  feet  in  height  and  has  a  very  slow  growth.  It  is  most  effective  when 
planted  as  a  unit  on  narrow  drives  or  streets. 

ORCHID  TREE 

The  orchid  tree,  so  called  because  of  the  resemblance  of  its  flowers  to  orchids, 
is  a  rare  tree  from  the  tropics  which  is  highly  desirable  for  private  grounds. 
It  is  very  tender,  however,  and  can  only  be  grown  in  certain  parts  of  southern 
California. 

(94) 


It  has  curious  twin  leaflets  from  which  the  generic  name  Bauhinia  was 
taken  in  honor  of  two  sixteenth  century  herbalists,  John  and  Caspar  Bauhin. 
The  species  (Bauhinia  purfourea)  from  Southern  Asia  is  a  small  tree,  rarely 
exceeding  twenty  feet  in  height.  It  bears  flowers  in  great  profusion.  They  are 
about  three  inches  across  and  resemble  orchids  in  color  and  shape.  At  a 
distance  their  color  is  deep  lavender,  but  an  examination  reveals  tones  of 
mauve  and  purple,  with  a  touch  of  white.  This  tree  requires  rich,  well-drained 
land  well  protected  from  wind  and  frost,  and  special  care  until  it  becomes  well 
established. 

PAGODA  TREE 

The  pagoda  tree  belongs  to  the  genus  Sojphora,  the  Arabian  name  of  a 
tree  with  pea-shaped  flowers.  The  pendulous  variety  (Sophora  jajponica 
pendula),  which  originated  in  Japan,  is  one  of  the  best  weeping  trees.  It  has 
long  and  slender  pendulous  branches  with  delicate  leaflets  that  are  dark-green 
above  and  lighter  beneath.  The  pea-shaped  flowers,  which  are  small  and 
cream  colored,  are  borne  in  racemes  about  a  foot  long. 

Sophora  is  scattered  over  the  warmer  parts  of  the  two  hemispheres,  with 
about  twenty  species,  two  of  them  becoming  small  trees  in  Texas.  The  Chinese 
use  the  pods  and  flower  buds  of  an  Asiatic  species  to  make  a  dye  which  is 
used  to  dye  white  cloth  yellow  and  blue  cloth  green. 

The  great  attraction  of  the  pagoda  tree  is  its  pleasing  outline  both  in 
summer  and  winter.  It  thrives  in  well-drained  sandy  loam,  but  grows  fairly 
well  in  rather  dry  soil.  The  weeping  form  can  be  increased  by  grafting  on  the 
common  stock  at  the  height  of  stem  desired. 

PEPPER  TREE 

The  California  pepper  tree  (Schinus  motle),  is  a  broad-headed  tree  with 
airy  foliage  which  is  widely  planted  in  southern  California.  It  has  an 
abundance  of  coral  red  berries  in  the  fall  and  winter  which  form  a  pleasing 
contrast  with  the  bright  green  evergreen  foliage  of  finely  cut  leaves. 

The  pepper  tree  is  admired  by  tourists,  but  is  falling  into  disrepute  with 
orange  growers  due  to  its  being  a  favorite  host  to  the  black  scale.  Many  trees 
have  been  cut  due  to  this  cause,  but  there  are  still  some  beautiful  avenues  of 
this  tree  in  Riverside  and  Los  Angeles. 

(95) 


As  stated  in  Bulletin  No.  4,  Street  and  Highway  Planting,  the  following 
points  should  be  kept  in  mind  by  any  one  considering  its  use : 

1.  The  pendent  habit  of  young  growth  means  continued  pruning. 

2.  The  black  scale  infests  it. 

3.  It  needs  very  wide  parkings  on  account  of  the  irregularity  of  the  trunk 
and  the  breaking  of  pavements. 

4.  It  requires  extra  care  when  young,   with  staking  and  pruning,   to 
encourage  a  good  form. 

BRAZILIAN  PEPPER  TREE 

The  Brazilian  pepper  tree  (Schinus  terebinthifoliw)  has  a  rapid  spreading 
growth  and  reaches  a  height  of  about  forty  feet.  Its  leaflets  are  longer  than 
those  of  the  California  pepper  tree,  and  the  new  growth  is  usually  tinged  with 
pink.  It  is  strictly  a  southern  California  tree  because  of  its  susceptibility  to 
frost. 

PISTACHE 

The  pistachio  belongs  to  the  genus  Pistacia,  one  species  of  which  produces 
the  pistachio  nuts  of  commerce,  which  are  used  in  confectionery  and  flavoring. 
In  Syria  they  always  form  an  important  ingredient  at  all  wedding  feasts. 
There  are  about  twenty  species,  most  of  them  being  found  in  the  Mediter 
ranean  region.  The  pistache  was  early  cultivated  and  according  to  Pliny  was 
brought  to  Rome  in  the  first  century  of  the  Christian  era.  It  was  introduced 
into  the  United  States  in  1853,  anc^  nas  been  extensively  propagated  at  the 
Government  station  at  Chico,  California. 

The  pistache  is  a  dry-climate  tree  and  requires  little  moisture  when  once 
established  in  deep  soil.  The  Chinese  pistache  (Pistacia  chinensis)  is  one  of 
the  best  species  for  ornamental  planting.  It  is  a  round-headed  tree  about 
forty  feet  in  height  at  maturity  with  stout  branches  bearing  large  dark  green 
leaflets.  The  ends  of  the  branches  are  covered  with  brilliant  red  foli 
age  which  appears  like  blossoms  at  a  distance.  In  the  fall  ruddy  berry-like 
nuts  are  borne  in  large  clusters. 

PITTOSPORUMS 

The  Pittosporums,  which  belong  to  a  genus  by  that  name  meaning 
"pitch  seed,"  in  allusion  to  the  resinous  coating  of  the  seeds,  embrace  over 
one  hundred  evergreen  species  most  of  which  are  natives  of  the  Australian 

(96) 


group.  They  are  shrubby  plants  which  often  attain  the  proportions  of  trees. 
Their  growth  is  slow  and  their  habit  somewhat  formal  because  of  their  upright, 
nonspreading  form  of  growth.  Several  species  have  small,  handsome  flowers 
which  add  to  their  attractiveness  in  the  spring.  They  are  easily  cultivated 
and  make  handsome  single  specimens  on  lawns,  besides  being  very  effective 
in  grouping. 

VICTORIAN  BOX 

Victorian  box  (Pittosporum  undulatum),  although  often  trimmed  lor  a 
hedge,  reaches  a  height  of  forty  feet  as  a  tree.  It  has  rich  green  wavy-margined 
leaves,  and  fragrant  whitish  flowers  in  terminal  clusters  followed  by  showy 
yellow  berries.  It  is  used  as  an  avenue  tree  in  southern  California  because 
of  the  beauty  of  the  foliage  and  the  odor  of  the  blossoms  which  resemble  those 
of  the  orange. 

NARROW-LEAVED  PITTOSPORUM 

Narrow-leaved  pittosporum  (Pittosjporum  phillyraeoides)  has  slender 
drooping  branches,  giving  it  the  same  habit  as  the  weeping  willow.  The  leaves 
are  long  and  narrow  and  the  flowers  yellow  and  fragrant.  It  is  a  native  of  the 
deserts  of  Australia  and  is  thoroughly  adapted  to  dry  situations  in  California. 
It  reaches  a  height  of  about  thirty  feet. 

POPLARS 

• 
The  poplars  belong  to  the  genus  Populus,  and  as  the  name  indicates 

have  a  wide  popularity  for  planting  on  account  of  the  ease  with  which  they 
are  propagated  and  the  rapidity  of  their  growth.  The  genus  embraces 
some  twenty-five  species  of  which  eleven  are  found  in  North  America.  In 
the  extreme  north  there  are  great  forests  of  poplars  and  they  are  also  found 
abundantly  all  through  the  northern  hemisphere  particularly  along  stream 
courses. 

Many  of  the  species  contain  fragrant  balsam  in  the  buds  which  is  ac 
counted  for  in  a  Grecian  myth.  The  story  goes  that  Jupiter,  angry  at  Phaethon 
for  his  reckless  driving  of  the  Chariot  of  the  Sun,  hurled  him  into  the  river 
Po  where  he  was  drowned.  His  unhappy  sisters,  the  Heliades,  mourning  his 
fate  upon  the  river  bank,  were  changed  into  poplars,  and  their  tears  into  its 
balsam. 

7—11898  (97) 


Legend  tells  us  that  the  Cross  was  made  of  Aspen,  one  of  the  poplars, 
and  as  is  so  beautifully  told  by  Mrs.  Hemans: 

*     *     since  that  hour 

Through  all  its  race  the  pale  tree  hath  sent  do\vn 
A  thrilling  consciousness,  a  secret  awe, 
Making  them  tremulous,  when  not  a  breeze 
Disturbs  the  airy  thistle-down,  or  shakes 
The  light  lines  of  the  shining  gossamer." 

The  constant  agitation  of  the  foliage  of  the  aspen  by  the  least  breath 
of  wind  is  due  to  the  length  and  flattened  form  of  the  leaf-stalk.  It  has  no 
stability  at  the  point  of  juncture  of  leaf  and  stalk  which  causes  the  leaves 
to  quiver  constantly,  no  matter  how  faint  the  breeze.  The  rustling  noise,  as  of 
a  purling  stream,  is  produced  by  the  friction  of  the  leaves  on  one  another. 

In  England  poplars  are  commonly  planted  wherever  a  quick  screen  is 
required,  a  practice  concerning  which  Evelyn  says: 

"We  may  recommend  them  to  such  late  builders  as  seat  their 
houses  in  naked  and  unsheltered  places  and  that  would  put  a  guise  of 
antiquity  upon  any  new  inclosure,  since  by  these,  whilst  a  man  is  on  a 
voyage  of  no  long  continuance,  his  house  and  lands  may  be  so  covered 
as  to  be  hardly  known  on  his  return." 

So  rapid  is  the  growth  of  poplars  that  in  some  European  countries  a 
plantation  of  these  trees  made  on  the  birth  of  a  daughter  is  expected  to  grow 
into  an  ample  dowry  for  her  marriage. 

The  cottonwood,  the  largest  of  the  poplars,  is  associated  in  the  United 
States  with  the  history  of  the  Middle  West.  Up  to  a  few  years  ago  there 
stood  a  giant  cottonwood  near  Wilmette,  Illinois,  which  was  known  as  the 
Black  Hawk  tree.  Black  Hawk  often  assembled  the  Indian  chiefs  under  his 
command  around  this  tree,  and  many  of  his  campaigns  against  the  whites  were 
planned  beneath  its  shade.  At  the  time  this  tree  was  destroyed  by  a  ma 
licious  act  it  was  1 30  feet  in  height  and  measured  twelve  feet  at  the  base. 

On  the  Capitol  grounds  at  Topeka,  Kansas,  stands  a  cottonwood  under 
which  were  mustered  the  Twentieth  Regiment  of  Kansas  Volunteers  which 
made  such  a  splendid  record  in  the  Philippines  under  General  Funston. 

(98) 


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u  *^^c. 

O         if. 


CAROLINA  POPLAR 

The  Carolina  poplar  (Populus  deltoides  carolinensis)  is  a  very  rapid 
growing  tree  with  large  leaves  which  is  easy  to  transplant  and  which  will 
thrive  under  a  wide  variety  of  soil  conditions.  For  this  reason  it  is  widely 
planted  although  it  has  many  undesirable  features  which  ordinarily  makes 
the  choice  of  other  species  preferable.  It  reaches  maturity  quickly,  breaks 
easily  because  of  its  brittle  wood,  and  suckers  badly.  It  is  particularly  bad  for 
street  planting  since  its  fine  roots  penetrate  the  slightest  crevice  in  a  sewer- 
pipe  in  its  vicinity  and  fills  them  with  a  network  of  fibers  which  soon  stops 
the  flow  of  water.  Some  towns  have  passed  ordinances  that  forbid  the  planting 
of  the  tree  because  of  its  objectionable  habits.  If  other  trees  will  grow,  the 
Carolina  poplar  should  not  be  planted  If  used  at  all,  it  should  be  planted 
with  the  idea  of  cutting  the  trees  out  in  a  few  years. 

LOMBARDY  POPLAR 

The  Lombardy  poplar  (Populus  nigra  italica)  derives  its  name  from  its 
abundance  on  the  banks  of  the  Po  and  other  rivers  in  Lombardy.  It  was 
brought  into  Italy  from  the  Himalayas  by  way  of  Persia  where  it  has  been 
planted  along  the  roads  from  very  early  times. 

Most  of  the  broad-leaved  deciduous  trees  have  rounded  contours.  The 
Lombardy  poplar  stands  almost  alone  in  the  remarkably  erect,  or  fastigiate 
habit  of  growth  of  its  branches  which  are  of  almost  equal  length  at  the  base 
and  at  the  top  of  the  tree,  and  which  point  upward  at  a  sharp  angle  from  the 
trunk.  It  is  called  the  "exclamation  point"  in  landscape  architecture  because 
of  its  tall  pyramidal  form  which  is  utilized  to  mark  the  position  of  houses  or 
serve  as  sentinels  at  the  entrance  of  parks.  When  planted  close  together  the 
trees  make  an  excellent  wind-break  because  of  their  low  branches  which  form 
a  wall  of  foliage  against  drying  winds. 

Early  in  the  spring  the  flowers  appear  as  long  catkins,  dangling  on  the 
bare  branches.  While  the  catkins  are  having  their  day  the  leaf  buds  are 
swelling.  When  they  burst,  the  two  outer  scales  turn  red  and  the  emerging 
leaves  are  curled  up  on  their  faces  from  margin  to  margin  in  two  coils  which 
as  they  roll  back  expose  the  shining,  bronze  face  of  the  little  leaf.  Soon  the 

(99) 


little  triangular  leaflets  come  forth  on  their  long  leaf-stalks,  and  glint  cheer 
fully  in  the  sun,  which  led  the  poet  Cornwall  to  say : 

"The  poplar  there 

Shoots  up  its  spire,  and  shakes  its  leaves 
In  the  sun." 

Lombardy  poplar  should  never  stand  alone,  but  should  be  placed  so  that 
the  row  of  vertical  green  plumes  may  form  a  contrast  with  some  horizontal 
line  such  as  a  railroad  embankment,  or  the  arch  of  a  viaduct. 

CHINESE  POPLARS 

These  poplars  (Populus  chinensis),  (Populm  simonii),  and  (Populus 
tomentosa),  that  have  recently  been  introduced  from  China,  give  promise  of 
making  very  satisfactory  growth  for  quick  windbreak  protection.  The  first 
has  an  upright  habit  similar  to  the  Lombardy  poplar  but  with  more  graceful 
leaves.  The  second  has  glossy  leaves  which  are  of  unusual  shape.  The  third, 
as  its  name  implies,  is  distinguished  by  the  silvery  tone  of  its  leaves.  This 
tree  has  made  remarkably  rapid  growth  at  Berkeley  and  Chico. 

PRIVETS 

The  privets  embrace  about  thirty-five  species  of  small  trees  and  shrubs 
from  Europe,  Asia  and  Australia.  They  are  valuable  for  their  hardiness  and 
are  extensively  used  for  formal  planting  especially  for  hedges  and  screens. 

The  Japanese  privet  (Ligustrum  japonicum)  is  a  large  shrub  or  small  tree 
with  leathery,  dark-green  leaves  and  white  flowers  which  have  a  sickly  sweet 
fragrance.  They  are  followed  late  in  the  summer  by  dark-blue  berries.  This 
privet  is  good  for  a  tall  hedge,  but  also  makes  a  handsome  flowering  tree. 
When  grown  as  a  tree  care  should  be  taken  to  select  specimens  from  the  nur 
sery  which  have  unbranched  leaders  for  at  least  seven  or  eight  feet,  since  the 
head  is  formed  very  low  after  branching  begins.  It  needs  a  wide  parking  on 
account  of  its  spreading  crown  which  gives  abundant  shade  at  maturity. 
Constant  care  is  needed  to  keep  down  suckers  which  tend  to  spoil  the  shape  of 
the  tree. 


(100) 


Plate  83.      BUR    OAK.     Sacramento. 

One   of   the    finest   of   the    Eastern   oaks   with   wide   spreading    branches    and    large    deeply    lobed    leaves.     The    acorn 
cups    are   fringed   and   bur-like. 


Plate  84.      CALIFORNIA    LIVE    OAK.      Del    Monte. 

"And  the  tair  oak,  whose  leafy  dome  affords 
A   temple   where  the  vows  of   happy  love 
Are   registered." 

—Shelley. 


RED-BUD 

The  red-bud,  commonly  called  the  Judas  tree,  takes  its  generic  name 
Cercis  from  a  Greek  word  for  a  weaver's  implement  to  which  its  fruit  bears  a 
fancied  resemblance. 

There  are  seven  species  of  Cercis  in  the  world,  three  of  which  occur  in 
North  America.  The  eastern  species  reaches  a  height  of  forty  to  fifty  feet, 
while  the  western  species  are  smaller  and  more  shrub-like.  All  species  are 
very  ornamental  with  a  profusion  of  bright  pink  pea-shaped  flowers  that  adorn 
the  black-barked  branches  before  the  leaves  appear.  The  sudden  change  from 
bare  branches  to  those  covered  with  beautiful  blossoms  swinging  on  little 
delicate  stems  is  very  striking  Californians  go  many  miles  in  the  springtime 
to  see  the  red-bud  in  bloom  and  to  gather  its  blossoms. 

After  the  blossoms  go,  the  heart-shaped  leaves  and  flat  brown  pods  ap 
pear.  The  hold  of  these  pods  upon  the  limb  from  which  they  hang  is  very 
slight,  so  that  a  mere  breath  is  sufficient  to  make  them  fall  to-  the  ground. 

The  California  species  (Cercis  occidentalis)  is  rarely  over  fifteen  feet 
in  height.  It  is  often  cultivated  as  an  ornamental  tree,  and  is  used  to  good 
effect  in  grouping  with  other  small  trees  and  shrubs.  It  is  easily  handled 
and  thrives  best  on  well-drained  soils  in  semishaded  situations. 

RUBBER  TREES 

The  rubber  trees  belong  to  the  genus  Ficus  of  which  the  curious  banyan 
tree,  the  sacred  fig  of  India,  is  a  member.  This  tree  has  a  peculiar  form  of 
growth,  its  branches  sending  out  aerial  roots  which  become  multiple  trunks 
when  they  reach  the  ground.  Lateral  branches  are  sent  out  from  these  trunks 
and  the  tree  continues  to  expand  outward  until  it  becomes  a  forest  in  itself, 
the  haunt  of  birds  and  monkeys  who  feed  on  its  fruit,  a  sort  of  red  fig,  the  size 
of  a  cherry.  There  is  a  banyan  tree  in  the  botanical  gardens  of  Calcutta 
which  has  a  central  trunk  over  50  feet  in  circumference  and  about  200  pro 
gressive  trunks.  On  an  island  in  the  Nurbudda  River  in  Western  India  is  a 
tree  with  350  large  trunks  and  3000  smaller  ones  under  which  an  army  of 
7000  men  is  said  to  have  encamped. 

The  Hindus  regard  the  banyan  tree  as  a  symbol  of  the  Deity  due  to  its 
long  endurance  and  overshadowing  beneficence.  Solemn  festivals  are  held 

(101) 


beneath  its  branches,  and  fakirs  and  anchorets  often  seek   religious  solitude 
in  its  deep  and  grateful  shade. 

MORETON  BAY  FIG 

The  Moreton  Bay  fig  (Ficus  macrophylla)  is  a  native  of  Australia,  where 
it  forms  one  of  the  finest  avenue  trees  in  some  of  the  cities.  It  makes  a  magnifi 
cent  tree  which  assumes  large  proportions  in  height  and  diameter  in  Cali 
fornia.  It  is  remarkable  for  the  fantastic  development  of  its  buttressed  roots 
which  resemble  the  snake-like  roots  of  the  rubber  tree  which  yields  the  India 
rubber  of  commerce.  The  foliage  is  evergreen  in  character  and  consists  of 
bright  glossy  green  leaves.  Its  large  spreading  head  makes  the  Moreton  Bay 
fig  desirable  for  street  planting,  but  care  should  be  taken  to  space  the  trees 
at  least  eight  feet  apart  to  allow  for  the  wide  extension  of  the  branches.  It 
should  not  be  planted  in  locations  subject  to  heavy  winds  which  may  break 
its  heavy  limbs..  Due  to  its  sensitiveness  to  frost,  it  is  not  recommended  for 
planting  outside  of  southern  California. 

INDIA  RUBBER  TREE 

The  India  rubber  tree  (Ficus  elastica)  is  much  grown  as  a  house  plant, 
but  will  reach  a  large  size  as  a  tree  when  planted  in  favored  localities.  It 
reaches  a  height  of  100  feet  in  the  tropics  and  has  a  wide-spreading  habit. 
The  leaves,  which  grow  to  twelve  inches  in  length,  are  very  dark,  glossy 
green  and  have  a  leathery  texture.  This  tree  which  is  a  native  of  Assam. 
yields  the  rubber  called  "Rombong"  of  commerce.  Its  octopus-like  appear 
ance  given  by  its  deep  buttressed  roots  makes  it  a  great  attraction  for  tourists. 
When  planted  as  an  ornamental  tree  in  California,  it  should  be  given  good 
soil  and  plenty  of  moisture.  It  will  not  do  well  except  under  very  favorable 
climatic  conditions,  since  it  is  naturally  a  tree  of  the  tropics. 

SILK  OAK 

The  silk  oak  (Grevillea  robusta)  takes  its  generic  name  after  Chas.  F. 
Greville,  an  English  patron  of  botany.  It  is  an  Australian  tree  that  has  no 
relation  botanically  with  the  true  oaks,  but  which  is  commonly  called  silk 
oak  because  of  the  silky-like  appearance  of  its  wood  which  is  hard  like  that  of 
oak.  It  is  sometimes  erroneously  called  the  gorilla  tree. 

(102) 


O    u    _ 
•  —    hfl  T« 


This  tree  is  very  common  in  southern  California,  where  it  is  extensively 
planted  on  the  streets  of  some  of  the  principal  cities.  The  stately  form,  fern-like 
foliage  and  orange-red  flowers  are  the  reasons  for  its  choice.  In  old  age,  how 
ever,  it  loses  much  of  its  charm,  because  of  breakage  due  to  the  brittleness 
of  the  wood.  Moreover,  it  is  considerable  of  a  nuisance  because  of  the  con 
stant  dropping  of  the  leaves,  and  the  capacity  of  the  roots  for  entering  water 
pipes.  These  faults  make  the  silk  oak  poorly  adapted  for  a  street  tree.  On 
private  estates,  however,  where  it  can  be  cared  for,  it  is  worth  planting.  It 
does  not  do  well  in  sections  of  the  state  where  frosts  are  severe. 

STERCULIAS 

The  Sterculias  are,  natives  of  the  warmer  regions  of  the  world,  the  two 
species  most  commonly  planted  in  southern  California  coming  from  Australia. 
The  foliage  somewhat  resembles  that  of  the  camphor,  but  the  growth  of  the 
trunk  is  entirely  different.  It  swells  at  the  butt  giving  the  trees  a  pyramidal 
shape. 

The  flame  tree  (Sterculia  acerifolia)  takes  its  name  from  the  scarlet 
flowers  which  are  produced  in  showy  clusters.  It  reaches  a  height  of  sixty 
feet  and  has  a  sturdy  habit,  with  deeply  lobed  leaves. 

The  Victorian  bottle  tree  (Sterculia  diversifotia)  has  a  peculiar  pyramidal 
trunk  growth,  and  bright,  glossy  leaves  of  many  different  shapes.  The  flowers 
are  not  striking  as  on  the  flame  tree,  and  give  rise  to  heavy  seed-pods  at  the 
tips  of  the  branches  which  tend  to  mar  the  symmetry  of  the  tree  by  pulling 
the  branches  out  of  position. 

SYCAMORES 

The  sycamores  belong  to  the  genus  Platanus,  which  is  the  classical  name 
of  the  plane  tree.  They  embrace  six  or  seven  species  found  in  North  America, 
Mexico,  Central  America  and  Southwestern  Asia.  They  are  splendid  trees  of 
rapid  growth  with  symmetrical,  broad  spreading  habits.  The  leaves  are 
large  and  are  rather  like  those  of  the  maple  in  appearance.  Their  dark  green 
color  makes  an  effective  contrast  to  the  gray  bark  which  peels  off  in  patches 
giving  the  tree  a  motley  appearance  which  has  caused  it  to  be  called  the 
"Clothes  Tree."  The  fruit  is  ball-shaped  and  is  pendent.  Its  resemblance  to 

(103) 


buttons  has  given  rise  to  another  common  term  for  the  tree,  that  of  "Button- 
wood." 

AMERICAN  SYCAMORE 

In  a  contest  inaugurated  by  the  American  Genetic  Association  of  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.,  for  the  location  of  the  largest  nonnut-bearing  hardwood  in 
the  United  States,  it  was  found  that  an  American  sycamore  (Platanus  occi- 
dentalis)  was  the  largest  tree  submitted.  A  tree  near  Worthington,  Indiana, 
was  found  to  be  150  feet  high  with  a  spread  of  100  feet  and  a  trunk  circum 
ference  of  over  forty-five  feet  at  one  foot  above  the  ground. 

There  are  a  number  of  historic  sycamores  in  Massachusetts,  notably 
those  at  Charlemont  and  Deerfield.  It  was  under  the  sycamore  at  Charlemont 
that  the  first  pioneer  settler  of  the  township  slept  when  he  went  there  in  1741. 
He  afterwards  was  killed  by  the  Indians  near  this  tree  and  it  still  stands  as  a 
monument  to  his  memory.  The  Deerfield  sycamore,  which  is  now  100  feet  in 
height,  stands  within  what  was  once  the  enclosure  of  a  fort  built  in  1689. 
Near  it  stands  the  Stebbins  house,  where,  in  1703,  "seven  men,  besides  women 
and  children,  held  two  hundred  soldiers  and  one  hundred  and  forty  Indians 
at  bay  (under  a  French  officer  of  the  line)  for  three  hours."  (From  James 
Raymond  Simmons'  "The  Historic  Trees  of  Massachusetts.") 

The  American  sycamore  grows  naturally  along  streams  and  lakes  on  rich 
soil.  It  is  confined  to  the  eastern  and  southern  part  of  the  United  States.  A 
close  relative  is  a  western  species  (Platanus  racemosa),  a  picturesque  tree  of 
irregular  growth  that  frequents  the  stream  courses  of  the  interior  valleys  and 
coast  ranges. 

The  native  sycamores  are  planted  for  shade  and  ornamental  purposes 
but  it  has  been  found  that  they  are  inferior  to  the  London  plane  in  symmetry 
and  are  more  subject  to  fungous  diseases  which  disfigure  the  trees. 

LONDON  PLANE 

The  London  plane  (Platanus  acerifolia)  has  for  years  been  known  and 
sold  as  the  Oriental  plane  (Platanus  orientalis)  and  is  still  so  listed  in  many 
nursery  catalogs.  According  to  Dr.  Augustine  Henry  the  tree  is  the  result  of 
a  natural  cross  between  the  American  sycamore  and  Oriental  plane  which 
grew  in  Kew  Gardens,  London,  and  which  still  attracts  the  attention  of 

(104) 


Plate  87.     ORCHID    TREE.      Riverside. 
A   rare   tree  from   the   tropics   which   gives   splendid   ornamental   effects  in   gardens   in  southern   California. 


Plate  88.      ORCHID   TREE    BLOSSOMS.      Riverside. 
d"P   IaVe"'Ier   at   *   diSta"Ce'   but    C'°Ser    ^minat.on    "veals    tones    of   mauve    and    purple 


visitors  by  its  size  and  beauty.  The  vigor  and  rapidity  of  growth  of  the 
London  plane  is  due  to  this  hybrid  origin  and  these  features  have  made  this 
species  one  of  the  most  highly  recommended  for  street  and  highway  planting. 

The  plane  is  a  native  of  Greece,  Cyprus,  Rhodes  and  Asia  Minor.  It  has 
always  been  highly  regarded.  The  Greeks  planted  it  in  groves,  under  whose 
heavy  shade  their  philosophers  were  wront  to  meditate.  Tradition  relates 
that  when  Xerxes  invaded  Greece,  a  plane  so  delighted  him  that  he  encircled 
it  with  a  collar  of  gold,  stamped  a  figure  of  it  on  a  gold  medal  which  he  con 
tinually  wore,  and  tarried  so  long  beneath  it  as  to  ruin  his  chances  of  success. 
Pliny  also  admired  this  tree  and  tells  us  that  no  tree  so  well  defends  us  from 
the  heat  of  the  sun  in  summer,  nor  that  admits  it  more  kindly  in  winter.  The 
plane  was  held  in  veneration  by  the  Egyptians  and  worshipped  with  fruit 
offerings  and  jars  of  water  from  which  travelers  might  partake. 

Near  Constantinople  there  is  a  plane  100  feet  high,  165  feet  in  circum 
ference  and  1 30  feet  in  the  spread  of  its  branches,  which  is  2000  years  old  or  more. 
On  the  Greek  island  of  Cos  is  a  giant  tree  which  has  become  so  old  and  pon 
derous  that  it  is  necessary  to  support  its  branches  with  marble  columns. 

In  his  Sylva,  Evelyn  writes  of  "the  incomparable  and  shady  Platanus, 
that  so  beautiful  and  precious  tree  which  we  read  the  Romans  brought  out  of 
the  Levant,  and  cultivated  it  with  so  much  industry  and  cost  for  its  stately 
and  proud  head  only ;  that  they  would  irrigate  them  with  wine  instead  of  water ; 
and  so  prized  the  very  shadow  of  it,  that  when  afterwards  they  transplanted 
them  into  France,  they  exacted  a  tribute  of  any  of  the  natives  who  should 
presume  to  put  his  head  under  it." 

The  plane  does  remarkably  well  on  London  streets,  where  it  was  planted 
in  1789.  Its  distinctiveness  has  given  it  an  important  place  in  modern  English 
art,  and  it  is  often  to  be  seen  in  paintings  and  drawings.  The  streets  of  Wash 
ington  and  Philadelphia  have  many  beautiful  specimens,  and  the  planes  that 
were  planted  in  Sacramento  a  few  years  ago  are  so  vigorous  and  attractive 
that  they  have  been  widely  planted  in  all  parts  of  the  city.  The  tree  is  well 
adapted  for  street  and  highway  planting  because  of  the  ease  with  which  it 
is  transplanted,  its  resistance  to  insect  pests,  symmetry  and  rapid  growth. 
It  is  disposed  to  grow  rather  large  but  stands  severe  pruning  well  and  can 
be  made  to  conform  to  the  width  of  any  street  without  injury. 

(105) 


TAMARISK 

The  tamarisks  (Tamarix)  are  shrubs  or  small  trees  with  small  scale- 
like  deciduous  leaves  greatly  resembling  those  of  cypress,  and  spikes  of  small 
pink  or  white  blossoms  which  completely  cover  the  trees  in  spring.  They 
grow  naturally  on  the  sea  shore  or  in  sandy  places,  from  Japan  and  China 
to  Madeira  and  the  Canary  Islands,  and  from  Senegambia  to  Siberia.  They 
thrive  in  the  very  spray  of  salt  water. 

The  name  tamarisk  either  came  from  the  river  Tamaris  in  the  Pyrenees, 
on  whose  banks  it  grows,  or  from  the  Hebrew  tamarik,  cleansing,  from  its  use 
either  for  purifying  the  blood  or  for  making  brooms.  A  decoction  of  the  young 
twigs  is  said  to  be  used  by  the  Tartars  for  rheumatism  and  for  bruises.  A 
Syrian  species,  when  stung  by  an  insect,  exudes  a  mucilaginous  sugar  which 
the  Arabs  term  "manna"  and  which  they  use  with  their  unleavened  bread. 

No  shrub  is  better  adapted  to  the  planting  of  waste  spots  where  soil  and 
moisture  conditions  are  adverse.  It  thrives  under  almost  any  condition,  and 
will  grow  readily  from  cuttings,  like  the  willow.  It  makes  a  good  windbreak 
due  to  its  dense  foliage  and  does  not  sap,  the  ground  since  the  roots  go  straight 
down  instead  of  spreading  in  a  lateral  direction.  It  reaches  a  height  of  ten  to 
twelve  feet,  but  can  be  readily  trimmed  to  form  hedges  if  desired. 

TULIP 

The  tulip  (Liriodendron  tulipifera),  commonly  called  yellow  poplar,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  of  the  hardwoods  that  flourished  in  the  cretaceous  age. 
In  that  remote  time,  the  genus  to  which  it  belongs,  and  which  is  now  repre 
sented  by  only  two  species,  one  in  Central  China  and  the  other  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  United  States,  flourished  in  Greenland  together  with  bald  cypress, 
sycamore,  redwood  and  other  trees  which  were  forced  to  the  south  during 
the  Ice  Age.  The  ice  pushed  from  the  north  down  to  middle  United  States, 
burying  everything.  Many  species  of  trees  perished,  but  the  tulip  managed 
to  survive  and  worked  its  way  as  far  north  as  Canada  when  the  ice  sheet 
finally  melted  away.  Some  of  its  former  companions,  notably  the  redwood 
and  big  tree  of  California,  never  succeeded  in  extending  their  range  to  the 
north  after  being  pushed  to  their  present  location. 

(106) 


andante1"" 


Plate  92.      PHOTINIA.      Pasadena. 

*'  Same   genUS  **    'he    California    "dberry.    which    is    the    glory    of    our    hill- 


The  tulip  reaches  its  best  development  in  the  Southern  Appalachians 
where  it  reaches  a  height  of  120  feet  with  a  tall,  straight  unbranched  trunk. 
It  has  a  pyramidal  habit,  something  like  that  of  a  conifer,  and  an  open  ap 
pearance  clue  to  its  comparatively  few  branches.  The  bark  is  dark,  mottled 
with  dark  spots  and  fissured  with  fine  lines. 

The  tulip  is  linked  with  the  history  of  the  Southern  States.  In  1779, 
Indians  assembled  near  Chattanooga  for  an  attack  on  the  Carolina  frontier. 
Isaac  Shelby,  a  pioneer  leader,  had  canoes  hewed  out  of  trunks  of  the  tulip, 
and  took  750  men  down  the  Holston  River  to  attack  them.  A  few  years 
later  a  force  of  South  Carolina  revolutionists  defeated  one  thousand  tories 
led  by  Major  Ferguson.  Because  of  the  crimes  committed  by  the  captured 
royalists,  ten  were  condemned  by  court  martial  and  hanged  to  a  tulip  on  Kings 
Mountain. 

On  the  campus  of  St.  Johns  College,  Annapolis,  stands  the  famous  Liberty 
Tulip  under  which  the  early  colonists  discussed  their  rights.  In  1825,  General 
Lafayette,  a  champion  of  their  struggle  for  liberty,  was  entertained  under 
this  tree.  Although  its  trunk  is  a  mere  shell,  yet  it  flourishes  and  bears  thou 
sands  of  blossoms  every  year. 

The  lumberman's  term  for  the  tulip  is  yellow  poplar.  It  is  probable  that 
this  name  was  given  it  because  its  leaves,  like  those  of  poplars,  flutter  in  the 
breeze,  and  because  the  color  of  the  heartwood  is  somewhat  yellow.  The  wood 
is  highly  prized  and  has  many  uses  such  as  for  veneer,  furniture,  tobacco  hogs 
heads  and  candy  boxes. 

As  a  shade  tree,  the  tulip  retains  its  beauty  and  symmetry  from  youth 
to  old  age,  and  has  added  attractiveness  because  of  its  striking  leaves  and 
flowers.  Like  other  members  of  the  magnolia  family,  to  which  it  belongs, 
the  tulip  has  large  showy  flowers.  They  are  tulip-shaped  and  yellowish- 
green  in  color  with  darker  yellow  and  deep  orange  on  the  tip  of  the  petals. 
Stout  stems  bear  them  erect  above  the  pale  green  foliage  of  the  tree. 

The  leaves  of  the  tulip,  which  are  deciduous,  are  unique  in  shape.  They  are 
angular  with  four  points,  and  have  peculiar  chopped  off  ends,  which  gives 
them  a  fiddle-shaped  appearance.  The  fluttering  of  the  leaves  in  the  wind 
is  due  to  the  triangular  leaf  stems  which  vibrate  as  do  the  flat  ones  of  the 
poplar.  The  fruit  is  a  cone,  several  inches  long,  composed  of  thin,  narrow 

(107) 


scales  attached  to  a  common  axis,  each  scale  bearing  a  seed.    The  seed  ripens 
in  October  and  blows  away  leaving  the  empty  spikes  erect  on  the  tree. 

Although  a  handsome  shade  tree,  the  tulip  is  rather  hard  to  grow  suc 
cessfully.  It  has  the  fleshy  roots  of  the  magnolias  which  makes  it  hard  to 
transplant.  In  transplanting  care  should  be  taken  not  to  bruise  the  roots,  or 
allow  them  to  dry  out.  The  trees  should  be  planted  in  the  early  spring  in  deep, 
rich  soil.  Careful  attention  is  needed  for  several  years,  but  after  the  tree  be 
comes  established  it  grows  rapidly  and  is  little  troubled  with  insects.  Because 
of  the  size  it  attains  at  maturity,  it  should  not  be  used  on  narrow  streets. 

UMBRELLA  TREE 

I  he  umbrella  tree  (Melia  azedarach  rar  umbraculiformis)  is  widely  planted 
in  California  because  of  its  rapid  growth  and  its  quickness  in  giving  shade. 
Its  common  name  is  given  because  of  the  umbrella-like  shape  of  the  tree.  It 
is  also  called  the  China  tree  due  to  its  Asiatic  origin. 

The  umbrella  tree  is  popular  because  of  its  delicate  bright  green  foliage, 
which  it  carries  until  late  in  the  season,  and  its  long  sprays  of  fragrant  lilac- 
colored  blossoms.  When  well  grown  it  forms  handsome  specimens,  but  in 
many  cases  it  is  not  properly  pruned  with  the  result  that  too  many  branches 
are  formed  and  breakage  from  the  wind  results.  This  tree  also  has  objection 
able  features  due  to  the  excessive  litter  of  leaves  and  its  slippery  fruits  which 
are  apt  to  cause  accidents  The  umbrella  tree  has  its  place,  but  its  faults 
do  not  recommend  it  for  widespread  planting  as  a  street  or  highway  tree  in 
view  of  the  many  more  desirable  species  that  can  be  used. 

WALNUTS 

The  original  home  of  the  walnut  was  probably  in  the  north  of  Persia. 
The  Greeks  thought  highly  of  the  tree  and  accounted  for  its  excellence  by  a 
story  that  Bacchus  loved  Carya,  a  king's  daughter.  Her  sisters  were  jealous 
and  interfered,  and  Bacchus,  greatly  enraged,  changed  them  into  stones,  and 
Carya  into  a  walnut. 

Introduced  into  Italy  before  the  Christian  era  the  walnut  was  named 
Juglans,  a  corruption  of  Jovis  glans,  the  nut  of  Jove,  food  nut  for  the  gods. 
It  was  looked  upon  as  sacred  to  Diana,  whose  festivals  were  held  beneath  its 

(108) 


E     S 


Plate  94.      PINES    OF    MONTEREY.      Del    Monte. 

"Anchored   in   firm-set   rock,   ye   ride   the   blast, 
And  from   the  promontory's  utmost   verge 
Make   signal   o'er   the   waters." 

—  Bayard  Taylor. 


shade.  The  ancients  believed  that  walnuts  were  marked  by  nature  to  cure 
diseases  of  the  brain  or  help  in  head  troubles  of  any  sort.  This  is  due  to  the 
resemblance  of  the  nut  to  the  head.  The  hard  shell  is  like  the  skull,  and  the 
thin,  brown  skin  and  lobed  white  flesh  resemble  the  convolutions  of  the  brain. 

The  herbalists  of  old  believed  that  "The  leaves  with  boar's  grease  stayeth 
the  hair  from  falling  and  maketh  it  fair."  Early  disciples  of  I zaak  Walton  made 
a  decoction  of  the  leaves  to  water  the  ground  to  make  worms  come  to  the 
surface. 

The  value  of  walnut  for  furniture  was  recognized  in  King  Solomon's 
time  when  this  wood  was  brought  from  the  Indies.  The  Venetians  later 
carved  walnut  into  elaborate  cabinets.  During  the  reign  of  William  and 
Mary  there  began  what  has  been  termed  the  "age  of  walnut"  when  these 
monarchs  brought  to  England  walnut  furniture  in  the  Dutch  and  Flemish 
styles. 

American  walnut,  or  black  walnut  as  it  is  often  called,  was  closely  asso 
ciated  with  early  colonial  history.  In  1633  Governor  Winslow  used  a  walnut 
table  in  presiding  over  his  councils  in  Pilgrim  Hall  at  Plymouth. 

At  Maplewood,  New  Jersey,  stands  a  huge  walnut  which  is  said  to  have 
been  planted  in  1743  in. front  of  the  Timothy  Ball  house.  When  visiting  his 
cousins,  the  Balls,  General  Washington  hitched  his  horse  to  an  iron  ring 
which  was  attached  to  this  tree. 

So  well  known  is  the  walnut  in  the  United  States  that  it  has  been  pro 
posed  that  it  be  adopted  as  our  national  tree.  It  grows  naturally  in  the  region 
occupied  by  four-fifths  of  the  people  of  this  country  and  has  been  planted 
and  grown  successfully  in  every  state  in  the  Union.  One  writer  says  "England 
has  her  oaks,  Canada  her  maple,  Italy  her  olives,  Germany  her  linden,  Japan 
her  cryptomeria,  why  not  America  her  walnut?" 

The  American  walnut  has  many  good  points  which  entitle  it  for  con 
sideration  as  the  national  tree  It  makes  a  beautiful  decorative  and  shade 
tree  with  its  wide  spreading  habit  and  long,  compound  leaves.  The  wood  is 
valuable  for  many  purposes,  and  during  the  war  was  much  used  for  gun- 
stocks  and  airplane  propellers.  The  nuts  are  much  prized  as  food:  The 
California  species  is  used  as  a  stock  graft  for  English  walnut  since  it  is  thriftier 
than  that  species  and  its  roots  are  better  adapted  to  our  soils. 

(109) 


There  are  ten  species  of  walnuts  found  in  the  world,  the  most  important 
commercially  being  the  Eastern  black  walnut,  which  is  found  from  Massa 
chusetts  and  Minnesota  south  to  Texas  and  Florida.  It  reaches  a  maximum 
height  of  1 50  feet  with  a  trunk  diameter  of  four  to  six  feet.  Under  best  condi 
tions  it  lives  to  be  250  years  old. 

CALIFORNIA  BLACK  WALNUT 

California  black  walnut  (Juglans  californica)  is  a  native  tree  which  is 
found  along  streams  in  southern  and  central  California.  In  southern  Cali 
fornia  it  usually  branches  near  the  ground  and  has  a  shrub-like  habit.  A  tree 
is  reported  in  Ojai  Valley,  Ventura  County,  which  has  a  crown  diameter  of 
ninety-two  feet  and  a  trunk  circumference  at  the  base  of  fourteen  feet  five 
inches.  Even  this  large  tree  has  a  shrub-like  habit  since  all  of  the  lower  limbs 
creep  on  the  ground. 

On  the  banks  of  the  lower  Sacramento  River  this  tree  forms  tall,  round- 
headed  trees  forty  to  sixty  feet  high,  with  a  diameter  of  one  or  two  feet.  This 
tree  is  now  known  as  Juglans  hindsii  and  is  regarded  as  specifically  different 
from  the  southern  California  tree.  Some  of  the  best  specimens  are  found 
growing  along  Walnut  Creek,  Contra  Costa  County.  Both  these  localities 
are  near  ancient  Indian  village  sites,  and  since  there  is  a  wide  gap  in  the  dis 
tribution  of  the  walnut  between  these  localities  and  those  in  southern  Cali 
fornia,  Jepson  thinks  that  the  nuts  were  brought  north  and  planted  either  by 
the  Indians  or  the  first  European  settlers. 

The  California  black  walnut  makes  an  excellent  roadside  tree  since  it 
grows  rapidly  into  a  symmetrical  tree  which  affords  an  abundance  of  shade. 
The  handsome,  pinnate,  glossy  leaves  add  much  to  its  attractive  appearance. 
The  nuts  are  ripe  in  October,  but  the  kernel,  although  very  palatable,  is 
difficult  of  extraction  because  of  the  thickness  of  the  shell.  The  tree  is  best 
suited  for  wide  roads  where  its  spreading  habit  and  sturdy  growth  are  most 
effective.  It  is  rather  difficult  to  transplant,  and  needs  a  deep,  rich  soil  for 
its  best  development.  Under  favorable  conditions  it  reaches  a  height  of 
seventy-five  feet. 


(110) 


Plate   95.      MONTEREY    PINE    TRUNK.     Del    Monte. 
A   handsome   native   pine   of   California   that    has   extremely   rapid   growth. 


Plate  96.     TORREY   PINE.      Hollywood. 

Under    cultivation    this    pine    makes    a    rapid    growth.      The    heavy    tufts    of    needles    on    the    ends    of    the    branchlet« 
give   it   an   attractive   appearance. 


WILLOWS 

Sir  Joseph  Hooker  called  Salix  a  "troublesome  genus"  since  it  embraces 
so  many  kinds  of  willows  and  they  fertilize  so  much  among  each  other  that 
the  botanist  is  hard  put  to  distinguish  between  them.  About  170  species 
have  been  recognized,  and  there  are  an  endless  number  of  varieties,  of  wide 
range  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  The  name  willow,  from  the  early  English 
word  welig,  refers  to  the  flexibility  of  the  young  branches. 

The  willow  is  so  meek  and  humble  in  its  habits  that  it  has  been  called  the 
Cinderella  of  trees.  It  has  long  been  considered  the  symbol  of  unrequited 
love  and  was  spoken  of  by  Fuller  as  "A  sad  tree,  whereof  such  as  have  lost 
their  love  make  their  mourning  garlands."  Shakespeare  portrays  Dido,  Queen 
of  Carthage,  when  forsaken  by  Aeneas  as  standing  with  a  willow  in  her  hand 
to  waft  her  love  to  come  again  to  Carthage. 

The  association  of  the  willow  with  grief  probably  had  its  origin  at  the 
time  the  Psalmist  recorded  that  the  Hebrews  hung  their  harps  upon  the  willows 
and  wept  by  the  rivers  of  Babylon.  Even  to  those  who  have  not  been  in 
fluenced  by  Biblical  tradition  the  willow  has  been  a  symbol  of  sorrow.  Torches 
made  of  willow  were  used  by  the  ancients  at  funerals,  and  "to  wear  the  willow" 
was  an  outward  symbol  of  grief.  The  Druids  are  stated  to  have  burned  their 
human  sacrifices  in  wicker  cages. 

Willows  are  rapid  growers,  but  usually  short  lived.  They  are  generally 
found  along  streams  and  spring  up  so  abundantly  that  they  quickly  take 
possession  of  localities  suited  to  them.  The  children  of  Israel  were  promised 
to  be  multiplied  like  "willows  by  the  water  courses."  A  few  of  the  willows 
are  large-sized  trees,  and  grace  proud  estates  with  their  beauty.  Others  are 
shrub-like  and  serve  a  humble  capacity  of  clothing  the  waste  places  of  the 
earth. 

The  willows  belong  to  the  lowest  order  of  deciduous  broad-leaved  trees, 
and  fossils  show  that  they  were  of  the  earliest  groups  of  plants  that  flourished 
when  the  earth  was  young.  It  is  probable  that  they  owe  their  survival  to  their 
tenacity  of  life  since  they  never  overlook  an  opportunity  to  gain  a  foothold. 
A  small  section  of  willow  twig  containing  a  bud,  or  a  piece  of  a  root,  when 
covered  by  moist  soil,  takes  root  and  rapidly  develops  into  a  shrub  or  tree. 
Willow  stumps  send  up  multitudes  of  shoots  which  are  often  a  great  nuisance 

(Hi) 


to  the  agriculturist  who  seeks  to  clear  land  for  cultivation.  The  sprouting 
capacity  of  the  willow,  however,  makes  it  useful  for  binding  embankments 
which  are  subject  to  erosion. 

The  willows  have  high  ornamental  value,  particularly  along  water 
courses,  where  their  fine,  graceful  foliage  produces  an  airy  effect  which  height 
ens  the  transparency  of  the  water.  The  close  association  of  willows_with 
water  was  noticed  by  Cowper,  who  said : 

"The  willows  dip 
Their  pendent  boughs,  stooping  as  if  to  drink." 

WEEPING  WILLOW 

The  weeping  willow  (Salix  babylonica)  is  a  native  of  Asia  and  North 
Africa,  but  has  been  widely  propagated  elsewhere  by  means  of  cuttings. 
This  tree  shades  the  tomb  of  Napoleon  at  Saint  Helena  where  its  light  foliage 
flows  like  the  dishevelled  hair  and  graceful  drapery  of  a  sculptured  mourner. 
It  is  related  that  the  soothsayers  of  Babylon  foretold  the  death  of  Alexander 
the  Great  when  the  boughs  of  a  weeping  willow  swept  the  crown  from  his  head 
as  he  was  crossing  the  Euphrates  in  a  boat. 

The  charm  of  the  weeping  willow  is  best  revealed  along  lakes  and  water 
courses  over  which  it  hangs  its  long ,  pendulous  branchlets  of  soft  feathery 
green.  It  is  a  perfect  contrast  to  the  formal  Lombardy  poplar,  the  light  airy 
sprays  of  which  rise  perpendicularly.  It  prefers  rather  humble  scenes  along  a 
glassy  pond  or  romantic  foot  bridge  where  its  pendent  branches  stoop  to  the 
water's  edge. 

The  first  weeping  willow  in  this  country  is  said  to  have  been  grown  from 
a  twig  brought  by  a  British  officer  in  1776.  He  secured  it  from  a  tree  on  the 
estate  of  the  poet  Alexander  Pope  and  on  his  arrival  in  this  country  gave  it  to 
John  Curtis  of  Virginia  who  planted  it  on  his  place. 

Salix  fragilis  pendula,  a  variety  recently  introduced  from  China,  has  made 
wonderfully  rapid  growth  at  Chico  and  promises  to  become  as  popular  a  weep 
ing  tree  as  the  above  species. 


(112) 


THE  PALMS 

The  term  palm  is  derived  from  the  Latin,  pa/ma,  meaning  the  flat  of  the 
hand.  From  this  sense  the  word  was  applied  to  the  palm  tree,  because  of 
the  resemblance  of  its  leaves  to  the  outspread  hand. 

The  palms  embrace  1 50  genera  and  1 200  or  more  species  of  monocotyle 
dons.  They  are  found  almost  exclusively  in  the  tropics  where  they  form  a 
striking  part  of  the  vegetation.  They  generally  have  a  columnar  trunk  often 
buttressed  at  the  base,  crowned  with  a  rosette  of  large  leaves,  although  some 
species  have  branching  habits  and  are  only  a  few  feet  in  height.  The  leaves 
are  either  palmate  (fan-form),  or  pinnate  (fern- form). 

The  Bible  has  many  references  to  the  palm  tree,  which  is  an  emblem  of 
constancy,  fruitfulness,  patience  and  victory.  It  is  described  as  an  upright, 
tall,  flourishing  and  shadowy  tree  growing  by  sweet  springs  of  water.  The  finest 
palms  were  about  Jericho  and  along  the  banks  of  the  Jordan. 

It  was  probably  under  date  palms  that  the  children  of  Israel  pitched  their 
camp  at  Elim  because  there  "were  twelve  fountains  of  water  and  three  score 
and  ten  palm  trees."  (Num.  33:9.) 

Date  palms  produce  a  great  number  of  suckers,  which  form  a  kind  of 
forest  by  their  spreading.  It  was  under  palm  trees  of  this  kind  that  the 
prophetess  Deborah  dwelt  between  Ramah  and  Bethel.  (Judg.  4:5.)  It  was 
probably  to  this  multiplication  of  the  palm  tree  that  the  prophet  makes  al 
lusion  when  he  says  "The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm  tree."  (Ps. 
92:12.)  It  is  a  fitting  emblem  of  a  just  man  because  it  is  constantly  green, 
flourishing  and  fruitful. 

A  branch  or  leaf  of  the  palm  was  borne  by  the  ancients  as  a  symbol  of 
victory  and  rejoicing.  "A  great  multitude  stood,  before  the 

throne,  and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their 
hands."  (Rev.  7:9.)  The  poet  Wordsworth  refers  to  the  ancient  custom  of 
using  both  palms  and  willows  as  symbols  of  rejoicing: 

"The  Hebrews  thus,  carrying  in  joyful  state 
Thick  boughs  of  palm,  and  willow  from  the  brook 
Marched  round  the  altar." 

S— 11898  (113) 


From  this  symbolism  the  palm  has  come  to  be  a  token  of  suecess  and  is 
used  in  this  sense  by  Shakespeare.  "So  get  the  start  of  the  majestic  world 
and  bear  the  palm  alone." 

CALIFORNIA  FAN  PALM 

The  California  fan  palm,  which  is  named  in  honor  of  George  Washington 
(\\"ashingtonia  Jllifera),  is  the  stateliest  of  all  our  palms.  It  inhabits  the 
interior  dry  region  of  southern  California  and  often  forms  small  groves  along 
alkaline  streams  on  the  margins  of  the  Colorado  Desert.  The  palm  groves  in 
the  canyons  at  Palm  Springs  in  Riverside  County  are  famous  because  of  their 
picturesque  appearance  and  ancient  lineage. 

In  its  native  state  the  California  fan  palm  reaches  a  height  of  seventy- 
five  feet  and  a  diameter  of  three  feet.  The  fan-shaped  leaves,  which  are  from 
three  to  six  feet  long,  with  forty  to  sixty  folds,  were  formerly  used  by  the 
Indians  to  thatch  their  huts.  They  also  ate  the  soft  bases  of  the  young  leaves 
besides  the  fruit,  which  is  borne  in  large  clusters. 

Phis  palm  is  extensively  cultivated  and  does  well  in  deep,  well  drained 
soil  and  where  there  is  a  plentiful  supply  of  water  during  the  growing  season. 
It  does  not  do  well  in  cold,  exposed  situations  but  in  the  interior  portions  of  Cali 
fornia  as  far  north  as  Butte  County,  and  on  the  south  coast,  it  makes  a  vigorous 
growth.  It  is  customary  to  remove  the  dead  leaves  each  year,  but  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  older  trees  is  more  striking  when  they  are  allowed  to  remain. 

There  is  great  difficulty  in  restraining  small  boys  from  touching  matches 
to  these  masses  of  dead  leaves  on  the  famous  palm  lined  avenues  near  San 
Bernardino.  Many  of  the  fine  palms  have  been  badly  injured  in  this  way. 

CANARY  ISLAND  DATE  PALM 

The  Canary  Island  date  palm  (Phoenix  canariensis)  is  an  introduced 
species  from  the  Canary  Islands  which  is  the  most  widely  planted  palm  in 
California.  The  name  Phoenix  was  given  the  date  palm  by  Theophrastus, 
probably  because  it  was  first  seen  by  the  Greeks  in  Phoenicia. 

It  is  valuable  in  landscape  planting,  but  its  ultimate  great  size  should  be 
kept  in  mind  so  that  room  will  be  allowed  it  for  development.  It  should  not 
be  planted  on  narrow  streets  or  parkings  of  average  width,  nor  in  yards  too 
small  to  accommodate  it  at  maturity. 

(114) 


Plate  97.     TORREY     PINE    CONES.     San    Diego. 

A    rare    tree   that   occurs   only  on   a   few   small   areas   in   southern    California.      San    Diego    has    included    a    little    group 
of   these   trees   in   a   city   park   at    Del    Mar. 


,rid  Dions''1 


Plate  98.      COULTER    PINE.      Pasadena. 
^   "'"'    °n    3CCOUnt    °f   itS    large    cones'      II    is    a    nativ^    tree    of    California    which    thrives    in 


Like  many  of  the  palms,  its  early  growth  is  exceedingly  slow,  but  after  a 
height  of  three  or  four  feet  is  attained,  development  under  favorable  soil  and 
weather  conditions  is  rapid.  A  height  of  twenty-five  feet  and  a  spread  of  thirty 
feet  are  common  at  ages  ranging  from  ten  to  twenty  years.  This  palm  has 
been  known  to  withstand  severe  frosts,  and  has  undoubtedly  proved  its  hardi 
ness  in  withstanding  drought,  hard  winds  and  an  appreciable  amount  of  alkali. 
Very  attractive  landscape  effects  can  be  obtained  by  grouping  the  Canary 
Island  palm  with  species  of  Cocos,  Sabal  and  other  palm  varieties. 

COCOS  PALMS 

The  Cocos  palms  are  a  very  large  tropical  and  semitropical  genus  of 
pinnate-leaved  palms,  including  the  cocoanut.  The  generic  term  Cocos  is  a 
Portuguese  word  meaning  monkey  and  has  reference  to  the  nut,  which  re 
sembles  a  monkey's  face.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  the  habit  and 
appearance  of  the  different  species.  Some  have  dwarf  growth  with  recurved 
leaves,  and  others  are  erect  with  long,  nearly  erect,  plumy  leaves.  In  the 
latter  class  is  the  Cocos  jplumosa  from  southern  Brazil,  which  forms  beautiful 
avenues  in  southern  California  from  Santa  Barbara  south.  They  frequently 
attain  a  height  of  forty  feet  and  give  attractive  ornamental  effects  because  of 
their  characteristic  trunks  and  plumy  crests  of  long  feathery,  swaying,  dark- 
green  leaves.  North  of  Santa  Barbara  this  species  frequently  succumbs  to 
frost,  and  should  not  be  planted  except  in  well  sheltered  places. 

One  of  the  best  of  the  dwarf  species  is  the  Pindo  palm  (Cocos  australis). 
This  species  can  be  successfully  grown  in  most  of  our  valley  counties.  Its 
handsome  form  with  leaves  strongly  arched  and  recurved  well  qualifies  it  for 
lawn  planting.  The  graceful  leaves  are  of  a  sage  green  color,  and  are  usually 
covered  with  a  bloom.  Unlike  the  Canary  Island  date  palm  it  can  readily 
confine  itself  to  limited  space,  seldom  exceeding  twelve  feet  in  height  or  width. 
A  unique  and  striking  characteristic  is  the  spiral  effect  caused  by  the  similar 
bending  to  one  side  while  arching  of  all  the  leaves  on  the  plant.  The  fruit  is 
edible  with  a  flavor  somewhat  like  that  of  pineapple. 

GUADALUPE  ISLAND  PALM 

The  Guadalupe  Island  palm  (Erythea  edulis)  takes  its  generic  name 
from  Erythea,  one  of  the  Hesperides,  Daughter  of  Evening.  It  is  found  in 

(115) 


the  wild  state  only  on  Guadalupe  Island,  off  the  coast  of  Lower  California. 
Under  cultivation  it  is  one  of  the  most  handsome  of  the  fan-leaved  palms. 
The  large  leaves  are  borne  on  long  stalks,  and  retain  their  rich  green  color 
for  many  years.  It  bears  shiny,  black-skinned  nuts  when  comparatively 
young.  This  palm  reaches  a  height  of  about  thirty  feet,  and  does  well  in  all 
the  valley  and  coast  counties. 

BLUE  PALM 

Blue  palm  (Glaucothea  armata),  formerly  placed  in  the  same  genus  with 
the  Guadalupe  Island  species,  has  a  silvery  blue  hue  and  leaves  armed  with 
curving  spines.  It  is  very  showy  but  has  a  slow  growth  and  is  difficult  to 
transplant.  Under  favorable  conditions  it  reaches  a  height  of  forty  feet. 
Some  very  fine  specimens  are  found  in  the  gardens  of  Santa  Barbara.  It  is 
probable  that  it  will  clo  well  in  the  interior  valleys  since  it  has  proved  hardy 
in  Texas. 

DATE  PALM 

The  true  date  palm  (Phoenix  dactylifera)  is  a  native  of  North  Africa 
which  bears  edible  dates  which  mature  in  some  parts  of  the  state.  It  has 
rather  a  stiff  growth  when  young,  but  at  maturity  it  is  hard  to  surpass  for 
scenic  effect.  The  trunk  is  more  slender  than  the  Canary  Island  palm  and 
the  leaves  coarser.  Specimens  grow  as  high  as  100  feet,  some  of  them  grown 
from  seed  from  commercial  dates  reaching  a  height  of  fifty  feet  in  thirty  years. 
An  undesirable  feature  of  this  palm  is  its  habit  of  sending  out  suckers  from 
the  base  of  the  trunk. 

CAPE  PALM 

The  Cape  palm  (Phoenix  redinata),  which  is  a  native  of  South  Africa, 
has  strongly  curved  leaves  which  arch  gracefully,  usually  hanging  edgeways. 
It  is  well  suited  for  avenue  planting  and  for  single  specimens  on  lawns  because 
of  its  slender  trunk  which  reaches  a  height  of  only  about  thirty  feet.  It  is 
liable  to  sucker  for  a  time  but  if  the  shoots  are  cut  off  for  a  few  years,  they  will 
cease  to  sprout  out.  This  palm  thrives  best  in  warm  localities  on  sheltered 
situations  away  from  winds  and  frosts. 

(116) 


Plate   99.      ALEPPO   PINE.      San   Diego. 

A    pine    from    the    Mediterranean   region   which   thrives   well    in    arid    situations    in    California    where    it    is    particularly 
adaptable  for   seaside  planting. 


Plate    100.      CANARY    ISLAND    PINE.      Pasadena. 

"As   sunbeams   stream    through   liberal   space 
And    nothing   jostle   or   displace, 
So  waved  the  pine  tree  through  our  thought 
And    fanned   the    breeze    it    never    brought." 


WINE  PALM 

The  wine  palm  (Jubaea  spectabilis),  from  Chile,  took  its  generic  name 
after  Juba,  king  of  Numidia.  A  large  trunk  of  this  palm  yields  about  ninety 
gallons  of  sugary  sap  which  is  boiled  by  the  Chileans  to  make  palm  honey,  of 
which  they  are  very  fond.  The  fruits  look  like  small  cocoanuts  and  are  called 
by  the  trade  "monkey's  cocoanuts." 

This  palm  has  much  the  same  habit  as  the  date  palm  except  that  the  foliage 
is  closer.  When  old  it  forms  a  very  thick,  gray  trunk  which  is  free  from 
leaves.  Probably  the  finest  specimen  of  this  palm  in  the  state  is  found  in 
Los  Angeles.  "It  is  one  of  the  hardiest  palms,"  says  Franceschi,  "and  can 
endure  drought  and  many  degrees  of  cold.  If  liberally  treated,  it  makes  a 
large  tree  in  a  few  years." 

WINDMILL  PALM 

The  windmill  palm  (Trachy carpus  eoccetsa)  is  an  Asiatic  fan  palm  which  is 
known  by  the  dense,  black,  hairy  covering  of  its  slender  trunk.  It  reaches  a 
height  of  about  thirty  feet  and  has.  a  handsome  crown  of  deeply  cut  fan-shaped 
leaves,  giving  it  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  windmill.  This  palm  endures 
more  cold  than  any  other  palm  and  is  easily  transplanted  and  grown.  It  is 
well  adapted  for  street  planting  since  the  trunks  are  very  small  and  require 
little  space. 

DRAGON  TREE 

The  dragon  tree  (Dracaena  draco)  takes  its  generic  name  from  a  word 
meaning  female  dragon.  Its  dried  juice  is  supposed  to  resemble  dragon's 
blood.  This  tree  is  often  called  the  "Dracaena  Palm,"  which  is  incorrect, 
since  it  is  closely  related  to  the  lilies  as  shown  by  the  flowers.  The  trees, 
which  are  tropical  looking,  have  sword-shaped  leaves  and  large  panicles  of 
white  flowers. 

The  home  of  the  dragon  tree  is  the  Canary  Islands.  A  very  famous 
tree  stood  in  Teneriffe  for  many  years.  It  was  seventy-five  feet  tall  and  had 
a  hollow  trunk  forty-eight  feet  in  diameter  in  which  a  staircase  was  built. 
Specimens  in  California  are  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  in  height.  Their  chief 
value  is  for  the  tropical  effect  which  they  give. 

(117) 


There  are  various  speeies  \vhich  arc  usually  associated  with  the  dragon 
tree,  one  of  the  most  common  being  Cordyline  auslralis,  known  as  "cabbage 
tree  to  the  residents  of  New  Zealand.  This  plant  is  hardy  in  southern  Cali 
fornia  and  does  exceptionally  well  near  the  coast.  In  the  interior  valleys  the 
trunk  suffers  from  sunburn  and  is  then  attacked  by  borers. 


(118) 


Plate    101.     WEEPING    PITTOSPORUM.     Goleta. 
A   native    of   the   deserts   of   Australia   which   has   much   the   habit   of  the   weeping   willow. 


Plate    102.      VICTORIAN     BOX.      Los     Angeles. 

One   of   the    p.ttosporums    of    Australia    which    is   much    used    for    hedges.      It    reaches   tree    size    in    southern    California 
where  it   is  a  favorite  because  of  the  beauty  of  its  foliage  and   flowers. 


PART    II 

TREE  LISTS  FOR  DIFFERENT  REGIONS  OF  CALIFORNIA 

The  following  lists  may  be  of  assistance  in  making  selections  of  trees  for 
areas  having  similar  growing  conditions.  They  should  be  used,  however, 
with  great  caution  because  of  the  wide  range  of  soil  and  climatic  conditions 
that  exist.  These  conditions  are  so  variable  that  it  is  not  an  easy  matter  to 
judge  how  far  given  species  may  be  suited.  In  using  the  lists  given,  considera 
tion  must  be  given  to  the  results  shown  by  trees  in  the  neighborhood  where 
it  is  proposed  to  plant  the  desired  species. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  lists  that  will  hold  for  all'  parts  of  California. 
Detailed  inquiry  must  be  made  in  each  case.  The  State  Forester  will  be  glad 
to  offer  advice  about  the  species  of  trees  to  select  for  various  parts  of  the  state. 
In  general,  the  following  points  may  be  used  as  guides  in  making  selections. 

1.  Do  not  select  species  that  need  abundant  soil  moisture  if  the  natural 
water  supply  is  slight. 

2.  Plant  only  trees  in  an  alkaline  soil  that  will  tolerate  the  amount  of  alkali 
that  may  be  present. 

3.  Do  not  plant  species  characteristic  of  arid  sections  of  the  state  in  semi- 
humid  regions  and  do  not  plant  those  characteristic  of  humid  regions  in  arid 
sections.    Use  the  native  vegetation  as  a  guide  and  plant  only  those  trees  that 
will  harmonize  with  it. 

No  effort  is  being  made  to  classify  all  the  trees  given  in  this  publication 
under  the  lists  given  since  there  are  many  exotics  described  concerning  which 
little  is  known.  Chiefly  those  trees  are  given  which  have  been  well  tried 
out  and  which  can  be  secured  as  a  rule  from  nurserymen. 


(119) 


REGION    I 


SACRAMENTO  AND  SAN  JOAQUIN  VALLEYS 


Highway  Trees 

London  Plane 
California  Black  Walnut 
English  Elm 
American  Elm 
Black  Locust 
Blue  Gum 
Red  Gum 
Forest  Gray  Gum 
Olive 


European  Buckeye 
Lombardy  Poplar 
Carolina  Poplar 
Silver  Maple 
Norway  Maple 
Arizona  Ash 
California  Live  Oak 
California  Sycamore 


Lawn  and  Street  Trees 

Deodar  Cedar 
Monkey  Puzzle 
Norfolk  Island  Pine 
Hawthorn 
Bur  Oak 
Cork  Oak 
Honey  Locust 
Crape  Myrtle 
Albizzia 
White  Fir 
Italian  Cypress 


Incense  Cedar 
Big  Tree 
Camphor 
Tulip  Tree 
London  Plane 
Italian  Stone  Pine 
Valley  Oak 
Pin  Oak 

Italian  Chestnut 
Irish  Yew 
Arbor  Vitae 


Windbreaks 

Red  Gum 
Blue  Gum 
Monterey  Cypress 


Desert  Gum 
Coulter  Pine 


(120) 


Plate   105.      CALIFORNIA    SYCAMORE.      Sacramento. 

"In   the  outskirts   of  the  village 

On   the   river's   winding   shores, 

Stand    the    Occidental    plane    trees, 

Stand   the   ancient    sycamores." 

— Whittier. 


REGION     II 
COASTAL 


Highway  Trees 

Coast  Redwood 
California  Black  Walnut 
Lombardy  Poplar 
Carolina  Poplar 
London  Plane 
English  Elm 

Lawn  and  Street  Trees 

London  Plane 
California  Sycamore 
Silver  Maple 
Tulip  Tree 
English  Elm 
American  Elm 
Copper  Beech 
European  Buckeye 
Bull  Bay  Magnolia 
Colorado  Blue  Spruce 
Empress  Tree 
Ginkgo 
Aleppo  Pine 
Norway  Spruce 

Windbreaks 

Monterey  Pine 
Coast  Redwood 
Red  Gum 
Lombardy  Poplar 


California  Live  Oak 
Big-leaf  Maple 
Blue  Gum 
Red  Gum 
European  Linden 
American  Elm 


Purple-leaved  Plum 
White  Birch 
Bur  Oak 
Madrona 
California  Laurel 
Pink-flowering  Locust 
Hawthorn 
Blackwood  Acacia 
Deodar  Cedar 
Lawson  Cypress 
Bald  Cypress 
English  Holly 
Douglas  Fir 


Monterey  Cypress 
Incense  Cedar 
Blue  Gum 


(121) 


REGION     III 
FOOTHILL 


Highway  Trees 

London  Plane 
Bur  Oak 

California  Live  Oak 
Carolina  Poplar 


Silver  Maple 
English  Elm 
American  Elm 
Lombardy  Poplar 


Lawn  and  Street  Trees 

European  Linden 
Tulip  Tree 
Deodar  Cedar 
Juniper 
Big  Tree 


Incense  Cedar 
Silver  Maple 
Lawson  Cypress 
Colorado  Blue  Spruce 


Windbreaks 

Incense  Cedar 
Monterey  Pine 
Silver  Maple 


Lombardy  Poplar 
Austrian  Pine 
Carolina  Poplar 


(  122  ) 


Plate   107.      LOMBARDY     POPLARS.      Santa     Barbara. 

"Now  with   the   breath   of   coming   rain 

The   poplars   sway   in   troubled   row, 

Like   old   wives,    rocking   to   and   fro 
In    pain  ; 
They   shake  their  heads   in   shocked  surprise 

And   whisper   underneath   their   breath, 

Like  mourners  in   a   house   of   death; 
Then   lift   their   aprons   to   their   eyes 
Again." 

— Nellie   Burget   Miller. 


O 
2     -S 


Highway  Trees 

Arizona  Ash 
Arizona  Cypress 
Deodar  Cedar 
Cork  Oak 


Red  Gum 
Sugar  Gum 
Lemon-scented  Gum 
Bull  Bay  Magnolia 


Street  and  Lawn  Trees 

Norfolk  Island  Pine 
Jacaranda 
Coral  Tree 
Orchid  Tree 
Rubber  Tree 
Camphor 
Flame  Tree 
Canary  Island  Pine 
Bailey's  Acacia 
Scarlet-flowering  Gum 
Catalpa 

Lawson  Cypress 
Blue  Cypress 


Deodar  Cedar 
Brazilian  Pepper 
Torrey  Pine 
Island  Iron  wood 
Victorian  Box 
Bottle  Tree 
Brisbane  Box 
Australian  Brush  Cherry 
Beef  wood 
Carob 

Catalina  Cherry 
Italian  Chestnut 


Windbreaks 


Monterey  Cypress 
Red  Gum 


Monterey  Pine 
Australian  Beech 


(123) 


ALKALI  RESISTANT  TREES 
STRONGLY  RESISTANT 


Catalina  Cherry 
Valley  White  Oak 
Willow 
Tamarisk 
Bottle  Brush 


Mulberry 
Lombardy  Poplar 
Carolina  Poplar 
Red  Gum 


FAIRLY  RESISTANT 


Blackwoocl  Acacia 
Big  Leaf  Maple 
Beef  wood 
Carob 
Camphor 
Italian  Cypress 
English  Elm 
Canary  Island  Pine 


Arizona  Ash 
Honey  Locust 
California  Black  Walnut 
Aleppo  Pine 
Cork  Oak 
Black  Locust 
London  Plane 


(  124) 


Plate    109.      RED    BUD.      Pasadena. 

A    small    tree    bearing    innumerable    peashaped    pink    flowers   before   the   leaves  appear.     The  pods   remain  all  summer, 
adding   to    its    picturesque    appearance. 


Plate    110.      RED    BUD    BLOSSOMS.      Capay    Valley. 

W"h    »'"k    b 


red    bud    one 


REFERENCES 

American  Forestry. 

Bailey,  L.  H. 

Standard  cyclopedia  of  horticulture. 

Boulger,  G.  S. 

Familiar  trees. 

Fernow,  B.  E. 

Care  of  trees. 

Franceschi,  C.  F. 

New  and  little  known  trees  suitable  for  southern  California  avenues. 
Hall,  H.  M. 

Studies  in  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs. 

Jepson,  Willis  Linn. 

Silva  of  California. 

McLaren,  John. 

Gardening  in  California. 

Morrison,  Ben  Y. 

Street  and  highway  planting,  Bulletin  No.  4,  California  State  Board  of 
Forestry. 

Mulford,  F.  L. 

Street  trees,  Bulletin  No.  816,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 
Nursery  Catalogues. 

California  Nursery  Company. 
Theodore  Payne. 

Pythian,  J.  Ernest. 

Trees  in  nature,  myth  and  art. 

Sargent,  Charles  Sprague. 

Manual  of  the  trees  of  North  America. 

Simmons,  J.  R. 

Historic  trees  of  Massachusetts.  • 

Solotaroff,  William. 

Shade  trees  in  towns  and  cities. 

Sudworth,  George  B. 

Forest  trees  of  the  Pacific  slope. 

(  125  ) 


'A  tree's  mere  firewood,  unless  humanized, — 
Which  well  the  Greeks  knew  when  they  stirred  its  hark 
With  close-pressed  bosoms  of  subsiding  nymphs, 
And  made  the  forest  rivers  garrulous 
With  babble  of  gods." 

— Mrs.  Browning. 


(  126  ) 


Plate   HI.      COAST    REDWOOD.      Sacramento. 
Under    cultivation    coast    redwood    makes    a    rapid    growth   even   when   removed   from   the  fog   belt. 


Plate    112.      BIG  TREE.      Visalia. 

'Thy    sire    saw   the    light    that    shone 

On    Mohammed's    uplifted    crescent. 

On   many   a   royal   gilded   throne 

And   deeds   forgotten    in   the  present." 
—  Bret    Harte 


Pate    114.      MORETON    BAY    FIG    TRUNK.      Los    Angeles. 
The   fantastic   development   of   this   tree's   buttressed   roots   gives   them    a    snake-like    appearance. 


Plate   117.      COLORADO     BLUE     SPRUCE.     Burlingame. 
A   tree   with   glaucous,   silvery   foliage,   which   is   an   ornament   to   any   lawn. 


Plate    118.      NORWAY    SPRUCE.      Sacramento. 
ChriStmaS    tr"    °f    northern    Europe.      It    is  a    graceful   tree,   the  branches   of   which   assume   a   drooping 


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Plate    120.      TULIP    TREE.      Sacramento. 


Here   is  one   of  my   favorites   now   before   me,   a   fine   yellow    poplar,    quite    straight,    perhaps    ninety    feet    high,    and 

r  jeet  thick  at  the  butt.      How  strong,  vital,  enduring:      How    dumbly    eloquent!      What    suggestions    of    imperturability 

and   being,   as   against   the   human    trait   of   mere   seeming  " 


— Walt    Whitman. 


Plate   121.     TULIP    TREE    BLOSSOM. 

In    remote    period,    the    tulip   tree   flourished    in    Greenland   together  with   redwood  and   other  trees  which  were  forced 
to    the   south   during   the    Ice   Age. 


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Plate   128.      DRAGON   TREE.      Santa    Barbara. 


Plate    129.      BLUE    PALM.      Pasadena. 
A    palm    from    Lower    California    with    a    silvery    blue    hue    and    leaves    armed    with    curving    spines. 


Plate    130.      CANARY     ISLAND     PALM.      Pasadena. 
A    palm    introduced    into    California    from    the    Canary    Islands.      It    is    widely    used    to    obtain    attractive    landscape    effects. 


Plate    131.      CAPE    PALM.      Los    Angeles. 
A   native    of   South   Africa    which   has   leaves   which   usually  hang   edgeways.      It   is   one  of  the   most   graceful  of  the  palms. 


Plate    132.      COCOS    PALMS.      Santa    Barbara. 

— Tennyson. 

'  The   solemn   palms  were   ranged 
Above,   unwoo'd    of   summer   wind." 


Plate    133.      DATE   PALMS.      San   Diego. 

This   palm   was   regarded   as   a   mystic   tree   by   both   the    Jews    and    the    Arabs.      It    was    reported    to    rustle    its    leaves 
even   when   no   wind   was   stirring,   which   was   looked   upon  ES  a  form   of  prophecy  that   their   prophets   could   interpret. 


Plate    134.      GUADALUPE    PALM.      Pasadena. 

Found   only    in    the   wild    state    on    Guadalupe    Island,    off     the    coast    of    Lower     California.      Under    cultivation    it    is 
one   of   the   most   handsome   of   the   fan-leaved   palms. 


Plate    135.     WINDMILL    PALM.      Pasadena. 

An   Asiatic   fan   palm    which   has   a   dense,    black,   hairy   covering     on     its     slender     trunk.      It    is    one     of    the    hardiest 
palms   known. 


Plate    136.      CALIFORNIA    FAN    PALM.      Los   Angeles. 

"The    marble    minarets    that    begem 
Cairo's    citadel-diadem 
Are   not   so   light   as   his  slender   stem. 
He    lifts   his   leaves   in   the   sunbeam's   glance 
As   the   Almehs  lift   their  arms   in   dance." 

—  Bayard    Taylor. 


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INDEX 

ACACIAS— 

BLACKAYOOD  ACACIA  (Acacia  melanoxylon)--  46 

BAILEY'S  ACACIA  (Acacia  bailcyana) 4° 

GREEN  WATTLE  (Acacia  dccurrcns)  -  46 

WEEPIXC,  .MYALL  (Acacia  pcndula) -  Illustration 

ACACIA  ELATA -  Illustration 

ALBIZZIA  (Albizzia  julibrissin) 47 

ARAUCARIAS — 

BUNYA-BUNYA  (Araucaria  bidivillii) 18 

NORFOLK  ISLAND  PINK   (Araucaria  e.vcelsa) 18 

MONKEY  PUZZLE  (Araucaria  iiubricata) 18 

ARBORVITAE — 

GIAXT  ARBORVITAE  (Thuya  gigantca) 22 

CHIXESE  ARISORYITAE  (Thuya  orientalis) ' 23 

ASHES — 

\YHITE  ASH  (I'ra.rinus  aincricana) 51 

ARIZONA  ASH  (Fra.rinns  vehttina} 51 

UALD  CYPRESS  (Ta.rodiuin  distichium] 27 

BEECH,  COPPER  (Fagus  sylvatica  purpurca) 62 

IJEEFWOOD,  SHE  OAK  (Casuariua  stricta) : 58 

BIRCHES — 

WHITE  BIRCH  (Bctula  alba} 53 

WEEPING  BIRCH   (Betnla  alba  laciniata  peudula) 53 

BLADDER-XUT  (Koclrcutcria  paniculata) .__  54 

BOTTLE  BRUSHES — 

BOTTLE  BRUSH  (Callistcinon  lanccolatus) 54 

BOTTLE  BRUSH  (Mclalcuca  cricifolia) 54 

BRISBANE  Box   (Tristania  conferta) 55 

CALIFORNIA  LAUREL  (Uinbcllularia  californica) 55 

CALIFORNIA  XUTMEC.  (Torrcya  californica} 19 

CAMPHOR  TREE  (Cinnamonwn  cainplwra] 56 

CAROB  TREE  (Ccratonia  siliqua) 57 

CATALPA  (Catalpa  speciosa) 59 

CATALIXA  CHERRY  (Primus  intcgrifolia) 60 

CEDARS — 

INCENSE  CEDAR  (Libocedrus  dccurrcns} 26 

LEBANON  CEDAR  ( '  Ccdrus  Icbani) 20 

DEODAR  CEDAR  (Cedrus  deodara) _.                                 21 

MOUNT  ATLAS  CEDAR  (Ccdrus  atlantica} 21 

CHRISTMAS  BERRY- 
CALIFORNIA  CHRISTMAS  BERRY  (Photinia  arbutifolia) 63 

CHINESE  CHRISTMAS  BERRY  (Photinia  scmdata} 64 

CHESTNUT,  CAPE  (Calodcndrum  capeusis}-- 57 

CHESTNUT,  SPANISH  (Castanea  sath'a} 61 

CHESTNUT,  HORSE  (Aesciilus  hippocastanum] 78 

CORAL  TREE  (Erythrina  crista-galli) 62 

CRAPE  MYRTLE  (Lagerstroemia  indica) 63 


(129) 


INDEX     Continued 

CYPRESSES —  r"*'' 

GUADALUPE  CYPRESS  (t'uprcssus  guadalupensis) -5 

MONTEREY  CYPRESS  (Cnprcssus  niacrocarpu )_.  24 

ITALIAN  CYPRESS  (Cupressits  sonpervircns) -.  -4 

ARIZONA  CYPRESS   (Cupressus  arisonica) -'5 

CRYPTOMERIA,  JAPANESE  CEDAR  (Cryptomcria  japonica} 3° 

DOGWOOD,  MOUNTAIN  (Cornits  nuttallii*)  -  64 

DOUGLAS  FIR  (Pscudotsuga  ta.vifolia)-.  31 

DRAGON  TRKK  (Dracaena  draco)  _  117 
KI.MS — 

MUNTINC.TON  IU..M  (Vlmus  glabra  vcgcta}--               °8 

CAMI>KRIX)\VN  ICi.M  (Ulmus  glabra  camperdoivnii Illustration 

ENGLISH  ELM  (  ('linns  cawpcstris)  _                                                                    "7 

AMERICAN  ELM   (  I' I  nuts  aincricana  )  -.                                                                        "" 

EMPRESS  TREE  (Paulowiia  inipcrialis)-.                                                                           --  °8 
EUCALYPTUS — 

SUC.AR  GUM  (Eucalyptus  corynocaly.v)...  ~\ 

P>LUE  GUM  (Eucalyptus  globiilus)-.                                  70 

RED  GUM  (Eucalyptus  rostrata)--.                                    70 

MANNA  GUM   (Eucalyptus  riminalis) 70 

LEMON-SCENTED  GUM   (Eucalvptus  citriodora)-.  71 

DESERT  GUM  (Eucalyptus  rudis)  _  71 

SCARLET-FLO WERINC  GUM   (Eucal\ptus  ficifolia)  -                                                ._.  72 

\\'IIITE  IRONIIARK   (Eucalyptus  lcuco.\-\loii) 72 

AUSTRALIAN  I'.KECII  (Eucalyptus  polyantlicma) 72 

SPOTTED  GUM   (Eucalyptus  calophylla) .__  72 

EUGENIA,  AUSTRALIAN    URUSII  CHERRY   (Eugenia  inyrtifolia) 73 

FIRS — 

SPANISH   FIR  ( . -lines  pinsapo)-.  33 

\\'IIITE  FIR  (.Ibics  concolor)  _  32 

XORDMAN'S  SILVER  FIR  ( . -lines  norduianni.ina  ) ..                                                        .__  32 

EUROPEAN  SILVER  FIR  (Abies  pcctinata}--                                                                   __  33 

("tiNKC.o  ((,'inko  biloba) . 33 

GOLDEN  CHAIN  (Laburnum  -eulgarc')  _                                                                                __  73 

1  1  \\VTIIOKNS — 

ENGLISH  HAWTHORN  (Cratacgcgus  ox\acantha~) -.  75 

PAUL'S  Dou RLE-FLO WERIXG   HAWTHORN   (Cratac^us  nwnogyna  pciulii} Illustration 

I  IlCKORIES — 

SHAGHARK  HICKORY  ( Hicoria  orata) 76 

PECAN  ( Ilicoria  pecan]  _                                                                                                 76 

HOLLY.  ENGLISH  (Ilex  aqiiifolium)..             78 

HYMENOSPORUM  (  Hymcnosporum  flavnm}-.  79 

IRONWOOD,  ISLAND  (Lyonothamnus  floribundus  var  asplenifolius) 58 

JACARAXDA  (Jacaranda  ovali folia) 80 

JERUSALEM  TIIORX   i  Parkinsonia  aculeata  )  80 
JUNIPERS — 

CALIFORNIA  JUNIPER  (  Juniperus  californica  )  _  30 

CREEPING  JAPANESE  JUNIPER  (Juniperus  chinensis  procumbens) -.  30 

LAI-REL  (  Laurus  nobilis]  _.  81 

LINDEN.  EUROPEAN  (  Tilia  curopaca)..  81 


INDEX— Continued 

LOCUSTS- 
BLACK  LOCUST  (Robinia  pseudacacid) 47 

PINK-FLOWERING  LOCUST  (Robinia  pseudacacia  decaisneana) Illustration 

HONEY  LOCUST  (Gleditschia  triacanthos) 48 

MADRONA  (Arbutus  mcnziesii) .__  82 

MAGNOLIA,  BULL  BAY  (Magnolia  grandiflora} 84 

MAPLES — 

SUGAR  MAPLE  (Acer  saccharum) 86 

BIG-LEAF  MAPLE  (Acer  macrophyllum) 86 

NORWAY  MAPLE  (Acer  platanoidcs} 87 

MAYTEN  (Maytenns  boaria) 87 

MULBERRIES — 

RED  MULBERRY  (Morns  rubra) 88 

TEAS'  WEEPING  MULBERRY  (Morns  alba  tartarica  pendula) Illustration 

OAKS- 
CALIFORNIA  LIVE  OAK  (Qucrcns  agrifolia) 92 

VALLEY  WHITE  OAK  (Quercus  lobata)--  91 

CORK  OAK  ( '  Quercns  snber) 92 

BUR  OAK  (  Qucrcus  macrocarpa) 93 

OLEA XDER  (  Xeriuni  olcan der] 93 

OLIVE  (Olca  europaea} 94 

ORCHID  TREE  (Bauhinia  pnrpnrca) 95 

PAGODA  TREE  (Sophora  japonica  pendula} 95 

PALMS — 

BLUE  PALM  (Glaucothea  armata}-- .  -116 

CANARY  ISLAND  PALM  (Phoenix  canariensis} 114 

CAPE  PALM  (Phoenix  reclinata} 116 

Cocos  PALM  (Cocos  botryophora) 115 

DATE  PALM  (Phoenix  dactylifera) 116 

CALIFORNIA  FAN  PALM  (Washingtonia  filifcra} 114 

GUADALUPE  PALM  (Hrythca  cdulis) 115 

PINDO  PALM  (Cocos  anstralis) 115 

WINDMILL  PALM  (Trachycarpus  c.rcclsa) 117 

WINE  PALM  (Jubaca  spectabilis}-- 117 

PEPPER  TREES — 

CALIFORNIA  PEPPER  TREE  (Schinus  molle) 95 

BRAZILIAN  PEPPER  TREE  (Schinns  tcrebinthifolius} 96 

PINES— 

TORREY  PIXE  (Finns  torreyana) 37 

CANARY  ISLAND  PINE  (Finns  canariensis} 38 

COULTER  PINE  (Finns  conlteri) 38 

ALEPPO  PINE  (Finns  halepensis) 39 

MONTEREY  PINE  (Finns  radiata} 37 

ITALIAN  STONE  PINE  (Finns  pinca) 35 

AUSTRIAN  PINE  (Finns  laricio  anstriaca) 36 

PISTACHE  (Pistacia  chinensis) 96 

PlTTOSPORUMS — 

VICTORIAN  Box  (Pittosporum  undnlatum) —  97 

WEEPING  PITTOSPORUM  (Pittosporum  phillyraeoides) ,  97 

PLUM,  PURPLE-LEAF  (Prnnns  pissardii) 59 


(  131  ) 


INDEX-   Continued 

1'ul'I.AKS —  />l'.y 

CAROLINA  POPLAR  (Populus  dcltoides  carolinensis)  -  .--      99 

LOMUARDY  POPLAR  (Populus  nigni  italica] __  99 

WEEPING  POPLAR  (Populiis  trcnnila  pendula)  _  97 

J'RIVKT.  JAPANKSK  (Ligustruni  japonicum)-.  .__    TOO 

RED-P.UD  (Cercis  occidentalis)-  101 

REDWOODS — 

I'lt;  TREE  (Sequoia  gigautea)-.  28 

COAST  REDWOOD  (Sequoia  seinpcrrircns] 28 

RnwEK  TREES — 

INDIA  l\ri:i;i-K  TREE  (f;icus  elastiea)-.  102 

.MoREioN  P>AV  Fit;  (Ficns  macrophylla)-.  102 

SILK  OAK   (C.rerillca  robust  a  )  _.  102 
Si-RrcEs — 

COLORADO  Ui.rE  SPRTCE  (I'ieea  piin^ens)^  40 

.NORWAY  SPRUCE  (I'iecti  e.rcelsa)-.  40 

ORIENTAL  SPRTCE  (  Pieea  orieutalis)-.  41 

SITKA  SPRTCE  ( I'ieeu  sitcliciisis  )  _.  41 

STERCTLIAS — 

FLAME  TREE  (Sterculiu  accrifolia)-.  103 
VICTORIAN  I'OTTI.E  TREE  (Sterculiu  dirersifolia)  -  103 
SYCAMORES- 
CALIFORNIA  SvcAMoKi'   (Platitnus  racetnosa)  _  104 
LONIM»N  PLANE  (Platanus  acerifolia)  _  104 
TAMARISK  (Tamari.\- gallica)  -  106 
Tiirvopsis.   IAPANESE  ARP.ORN  ITAK  (Thuyopsis  dolobrata)-.  23 
TULIP  TREE  (Lir'wdcndron  tulipifera)  -  106 
I'MP.RELLA  TREE  (Melia  azcdarach  rar  umbraculiformis) -.  108 
WALNUT.  CALIFORNIA  P>LACK  (Juglans  californica)  _  110 
WILLOW.  \\'EEPINC.  (Sali.v  babyhnica)  -  112 
\"EWS — 

KNC.LISH  YEW  (  Ta.vus  baeeatu)-.  42 

IRISH  YKW  (Ta.rus  baccata  fastigiata) 43 

WESTERN  YEW  (  Ta.rus  brei'ifolia) 43 

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